I went down to the pond yesterday morning and sat down to observe the scene (I try to keep a chair by the pond for Zen contemplation). All was quiet for a few minutes and then, all of a sudden, one Willet appeared, then another and then four more. They were all lined up in attack formation and peeled off, one by one, to dive bomb me as I was sitting harmlessly at the edge of the pond. Where did all these Willets come from? Until today, there were never more than two. Were these perhaps the offspring of the year, flying like their elders and going into attack mode to chase the intruder away?
This was not the only ensemble of its kind. A group of six Barn Swallows, at least four of which had short tails, proved to be a family with newly fledged youngsters. The young birds were certainly trying to imitate their elders at aerial hunting but finally all four settled in the branches of a dead pine where they were fed by the adults who were still on the hunt.
Finally, and not least, a group of a half a dozen White-breasted Nuthatches came working its way through the woods and down to the pond where they were seen by Lorna. Again, there has been a regular sighting of one or two of these birds this spring but this was almost certainly a family group of fledglings and adults -- perhaps the first record of breeding nuthatches on the property since I have been paying attention.
Eric Salzman
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
Saturday, June 27, 2015
Green Heron burps and squawking Blue Jays
I could hear the Green Heron 'burps' out the bedroom window early this morning, a sound that is supposed to indicate that a nest is nearby. An hour or two later, I watched an adult bird pop up in the dead pines between the house and the pond and then slowly work its way up into the green and leafy oak directly in front of the house. This is the tree where I suspected that they built their nest earlier this spring. I thought the activity around the house had spooked them to move the nest somewhere else but now it appears that the nest may be in the dense, invisible canopy of this tree after all and that it is active.
A noisy racket from the Blue Jays attracted a number of visitors -- including me and a very handsome Baltimore Oriole -- looking for a raptor. But the apparent Jay attack squadron soon broke up. The problem may have been a marauding crow or even house cat (didn't see any) but I'm almost certain that there were young fledgling jays in the mob and that it was their presence that put all the adult jays on edge.
The young Osprey from the nest directly across the creek are now flying out regularly but they don't go far, usually hanging out on the dead stubs that surround the next pole. I suppose the adults must come in with fish for the youngsters who don't seem to be fishing for themselves yet. One Osprey that came in calling and holding a fish in its talons did not appear to go in towards the Pine Neck youngsters but flew off in another direction.
Eric Salzman
A noisy racket from the Blue Jays attracted a number of visitors -- including me and a very handsome Baltimore Oriole -- looking for a raptor. But the apparent Jay attack squadron soon broke up. The problem may have been a marauding crow or even house cat (didn't see any) but I'm almost certain that there were young fledgling jays in the mob and that it was their presence that put all the adult jays on edge.
The young Osprey from the nest directly across the creek are now flying out regularly but they don't go far, usually hanging out on the dead stubs that surround the next pole. I suppose the adults must come in with fish for the youngsters who don't seem to be fishing for themselves yet. One Osprey that came in calling and holding a fish in its talons did not appear to go in towards the Pine Neck youngsters but flew off in another direction.
Eric Salzman
Friday, June 26, 2015
fledging Osprey and a Goose flotilla
The Osprey nest at the foot of Pine Neck -- almost directly opposite us at the mouth of Weesuck Creek -- has two young birds that are just beginning to fly. I have had the luck to watch them 'helicopter' as they rise up directly over the nest, furiously flapping all the while. This morning both of them made tentative flights off the nest to nearby perches on dead snags left behind by Sandy.
A flotilla of Canada Geese swimming down the creek including three adult pairs each with cygnets in tow -- five in one group and three each in the other two. I don't think I've seen geese from different families arranging themselves in parade formation like this before.
Heard a Flicker do its wick-a-wick-a-wick call this morning several times. That means that all three woodpeckers are active and accounted for (Downy, Red-bellied & N Flicker). No Hairy Woodpecker, even with all the scrumptious Sandy created standing wood that ought to appeal to any upstanding woodpecker. Green Heron is nesting somewhere in the woods around the house but I haven't found the nest yet.
Box Turtles still active -- big ones, both male and female.
Eric Salzman
A flotilla of Canada Geese swimming down the creek including three adult pairs each with cygnets in tow -- five in one group and three each in the other two. I don't think I've seen geese from different families arranging themselves in parade formation like this before.
Heard a Flicker do its wick-a-wick-a-wick call this morning several times. That means that all three woodpeckers are active and accounted for (Downy, Red-bellied & N Flicker). No Hairy Woodpecker, even with all the scrumptious Sandy created standing wood that ought to appeal to any upstanding woodpecker. Green Heron is nesting somewhere in the woods around the house but I haven't found the nest yet.
Box Turtles still active -- big ones, both male and female.
Eric Salzman
Thursday, June 25, 2015
spring into summer
Did I say something about spring into summer?
Spooked a spotted fawn from its hiding place. Yes, the deer are reproducing.
Juvenile Am Robins with spotted breasts are out. Also Chipping Sparrows feeding in front of the house with at least one adult and at least two fledglings.
Picked some Chanterelles, a product (I assume) of the rains a couple of days ago. Seems early but, hey, I'm not complaining.
John Heidecker sent me some striking photos of native orchids -- Grass Pinks (Calopogon) and Rose Pogonia -- taken at Napeague in East Hampton and Cranberry Bog near Riverhead. A couple of his shots are included below. As with the Chanterelles, it seems very early for these beauties but, hey, I'm not complaining.
Eric Salzman
Spooked a spotted fawn from its hiding place. Yes, the deer are reproducing.
Juvenile Am Robins with spotted breasts are out. Also Chipping Sparrows feeding in front of the house with at least one adult and at least two fledglings.
Picked some Chanterelles, a product (I assume) of the rains a couple of days ago. Seems early but, hey, I'm not complaining.
John Heidecker sent me some striking photos of native orchids -- Grass Pinks (Calopogon) and Rose Pogonia -- taken at Napeague in East Hampton and Cranberry Bog near Riverhead. A couple of his shots are included below. As with the Chanterelles, it seems very early for these beauties but, hey, I'm not complaining.
Eric Salzman
Wednesday, June 24, 2015
What is a Broadtail Hawk?
What is a Broadtail Hawk? Just a typo, I'm afraid.
Maybe it isn't my ankle that needs mending but my brain. Of course, as several alert readers have pointed out, what I meant in yesterday's post was Broad-WINGED Hawk, that smaller relative of the Red-TAILED Hawk.
No -winged or -tailed hawks of any sort this morning but a few woodland birds singing vigorously including Red-eyed Vireo, White-breasted Nuthatch and Pine Warbler (all possible nesters). A family of Black-capped Chickadees -- including several recently fledged young -- turned up. The late-nesting American Goldfinches are paired up but moving around in pairs that are probably getting ready to nest. Going on is a furious song contest between House Wrens as these birds seemingly defend adjacent territories; the singing is non-stop all morning and often picks up again later in the day. Very little singing from the Carolina Wrens. either because the cold winter decimated the local populations (Carolinas are resident and don't migrate so they don't do well in cold winters) or because they are sitting on eggs or feeding nestlings and don't want to give away the nest location! Woodpeckers remain scarce -- a single Downy and a Red-bellied calling somewhere -- they are also probably still sitting on eggs or feeding nestlings.
At least two Box Turtles emerged in the wake of yesterdays rain showers.
And thus spring turns into summer!
Eric Salzman
Maybe it isn't my ankle that needs mending but my brain. Of course, as several alert readers have pointed out, what I meant in yesterday's post was Broad-WINGED Hawk, that smaller relative of the Red-TAILED Hawk.
No -winged or -tailed hawks of any sort this morning but a few woodland birds singing vigorously including Red-eyed Vireo, White-breasted Nuthatch and Pine Warbler (all possible nesters). A family of Black-capped Chickadees -- including several recently fledged young -- turned up. The late-nesting American Goldfinches are paired up but moving around in pairs that are probably getting ready to nest. Going on is a furious song contest between House Wrens as these birds seemingly defend adjacent territories; the singing is non-stop all morning and often picks up again later in the day. Very little singing from the Carolina Wrens. either because the cold winter decimated the local populations (Carolinas are resident and don't migrate so they don't do well in cold winters) or because they are sitting on eggs or feeding nestlings and don't want to give away the nest location! Woodpeckers remain scarce -- a single Downy and a Red-bellied calling somewhere -- they are also probably still sitting on eggs or feeding nestlings.
At least two Box Turtles emerged in the wake of yesterdays rain showers.
And thus spring turns into summer!
Eric Salzman
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
mystery call
I've been hearing a whistle call from the woods between the house and the creek and trying to figure out what it is. Unfortunately, with my twisted ankle, I haven't been able to dash out and locate the source. My guess is that it's a raptor call but it's not a Cooper's Hawk nor a Red-tail nor any kind of falcon (definitely not a Kestrel). Bald Eagle? Outside possibility. Those are the main LI breeding hawks. So what is it?
Lorna reports seeing an Osprey chasing a Broadtail Hawk near the Peconic River in Flanders and that seems to me to be the solution. There is a huge Broadtail migration in the fall but most of it travels inland and we see rather few birds here. But there is a history of Broadtail Hawk breeding on Long Island and I once found an injured juvenile Broadtail by the side of the road in East Quogue (it has probably been hit by a car as I was able to capture it easily and bring it to the Quogue Refuge for rehab). There was a breeding pair in Maple Swamp and others in the Pine Barrens and N. Shore woods. So the possibility of a comeback (or an attempted comeback) is quite real. And Broadtail is the best match for the whistling call that I have been hearing.
Eric Salzman
Lorna reports seeing an Osprey chasing a Broadtail Hawk near the Peconic River in Flanders and that seems to me to be the solution. There is a huge Broadtail migration in the fall but most of it travels inland and we see rather few birds here. But there is a history of Broadtail Hawk breeding on Long Island and I once found an injured juvenile Broadtail by the side of the road in East Quogue (it has probably been hit by a car as I was able to capture it easily and bring it to the Quogue Refuge for rehab). There was a breeding pair in Maple Swamp and others in the Pine Barrens and N. Shore woods. So the possibility of a comeback (or an attempted comeback) is quite real. And Broadtail is the best match for the whistling call that I have been hearing.
Eric Salzman
Monday, June 22, 2015
Southern Ecuador
SOUTHERN ECUADOR
October 24, 2014, to November 9, 2014
with Gary Rosenberg.
South America is the Bird Continent and the largest number of species can be found in the Andean countries between Colombia and Peru. Colombia is the champ with close to 2000 species (20% of the world’s birds); it also has the largest number of endemics and near-endemics (restricted area species) and, less glamorously, some of the most threatened species. Peru and Brazil are not far behind in this competition but ‘little’ Ecuador, with over 1650 species, easily takes the prize for species density or, if you prefer, species per square inch! Ecuador is also a pretty safe place and it is fairly well set up for eco-tourism. This all started with the Galapagos but it has since extended to cover the cloud forests of the Andes, the Amazonian lowlands east of the mountains and the coastal areas of the west. New threats to the environment – oil extraction in the Amazonian areas, mining in the cloud forest – are endangering this delicate balance, not least because they have government sponsorship and foreign investment. But for the moment, Ecuador remains very high on most birders’ lists.
A major player in this game is the Jocotoco Foundation which was originally established to protect a small population of a newly discovered antpitta – named Jocotoco (‘Hocotoco’) from its call – that was discovered relatively recently and occupies only a very restricted range. The foundation has now established a series of notable reserves, mostly in the south (although one is on the slopes of the Volcano Pinchicha just outside of Quito), and protecting habitat essential for the survival of several threatened species. These supplement the existing National Parks and Reserves which cover some 18% of the country.
We have made several trips to Ecuador but this was the first time we visited the south. The trip began in the once notorious port city of Guayaquil, today the largest and most bustling urban center in Ecuador. It took us from the coastal areas to the foothills and then higher slopes of the mountains whose cloud forests guard many rich forms of life. At our farthest reach, we were in the Cordillera del Condor in the eastern foothills of Amazonia and close to the Peruvian border. Jorupe, also near the border of Peru but to the west, preserves a remarkable dry ‘Tumbesian’ forest with its own special forms of life. In between were preserves and parks at various elevations in the foothills and higher reaches of the mountains.
Our guide was Gary Rosenberg, an experienced ornithologist and genial trip leader, with a superb ear, a quick draw on the spotting scope and a lot of experience with Ecuadorian birds. Just what is needed to find skulking birds in the dense jungle foliage!
Unfortunately, I never had the opportunity to check many of the exact locales with Gary; hence the many question marks in the species list. The dates and bird names are accurate but not always the exact spot of the sighting.
ITINERARY:
Friday, October 24, 2014: arrival in Guayaquil via Miami. Grand Hotel Guayaquil.
Saturday, October 25: morning trip to Parque El Lago, a local reservoir and park just outside of Guayquil. Overnight again at the Grand Hotel Guayaquil.
Sunday, October 26: Santa Elena Peninsula: dry forest, coastal areas, salinas (Equasal ponds) Again night at the Grand Hotel Guayaquil.
Monday, October 27: Departure from Guayaquil to Manglares Churute (Churute Mangrove Ecological Preserve, a wetlands area near Guayaquil); then a drive to Santa Rosa with a stop for lunch; afterwards to Umbrellabird Lodge at 500 meters in the Buenaventura Reserve, a rare example of forested foothills on the Western slope of the Andes. This is a Jocotoco Foundation lodge and, in addition to the spectacular Long-wattled Umbrellabird and many other species, it has open hummingbird feeder trays surrounding an open porch/dining area and these attract unbelievable numbers of hummers and many other birds, as well as a whole family of coatis.
Tuesday, October 28: All day at the Umbrellabird Lodge and Buenaventura Reserve; morning from the lodge up the road; in the afternoon to the upper area along the old highway; part of this was almost washed away leaving only a very narrow, precarious path that was a bit scary to cross.
Wednesday, October 29: Roadside birding below Umbrellabird Lodge in the early morning and then a long drive to Copalinga Lodge arriving in mid-afternoon; late afternoon birding on the Tinamou Trail. Copalinga is a beautifully run private ecolodge less than 3 km from the Bombuscaro entrance to Podocarpus National Park. This locale is at c. 1000 meters and is considered an extension of the Eastern slope of the Andes so it has a different set of birds.
Thursday, October 30: All day at Copalinga, in Podacarpus National Park and on the Rio Bombuscaro.
Friday, October 31: Copalinga in the morning before driving to Yankaum on the Nangaritza River at the base of the Cordillera del Condor; afternoon on the road on the east side of the river. Until recently, the road ended at the lodge but there is now a bridge across the river and a road that goes into still heavily forested areas on the other side. There is a striking sculpture on the bridge depicting Arutam, a spirit being, riding his toucan which will fly him home to the top of Cordillera del Condor (see picture below). Besides toucans and many birds of eastern and Amazonian affinities, the bird life here includes species previously known only from Peru; the target bird is the Orange-throated Tanager, a spectacular tanager in its own genus, previously known only from a remote and dangerous part of Peru.
Saturday, November 1: All day on the road from Yankuam with a siesta break enabling me to observe the tanagers and other birds feeding on a fruiting tree in the lodge garden; the lodge itself could use a little sprucing up but the activity in the gardens and around the buildings was dynamic. It was here that I saw a trio of Sharpbills, a bird barely known from this corner of Ecuador (discovered here by the legendary Theodore Parker shortly before his death in a plane crash); this was probably my best sighting of the trip.
Sunday, November 2: Road from Yankuam in the morning; drive back to Copalinga in the afternoon.
Monday, November 3: Copalinga to Loja with stop on the bridge to the Cajanuma sector of Podocarpus National Park; afterwards drive to Tapichalaca with birding stops (Quebrada Honda Trail); Casa Simpson is a Jocotoco lodge at 2500 meters on the eastern slope of the Andes and on the grounds of the Tapichalaca Reserve, the site of the discovery of the Jocotoco Antpitta (Grallaria ridgelyi) in 1997 which was the original impetus for the Jocotoco Foundation.
Tuesday, November 4: All day at the Tapichalaca Reserve; Jocotoco Trail in the morning; road below Valladolid in the afternoon
Wednesday, November 5: Road from Tapichalaca (towards Valladolid) in the morning; then long ride to the Jorupe Reserve with occasional birding stops (via Cariamanga); night at the Jocotoco Foundation’s Urraca or White-tailed Jay Lodge in the middle of a dry Tumbesian forest dominated by the fantastical ceiba tree.
Thursday, November 6: Jorupe all morning; bridge to Peru over Macara River in the early afternoon; then trail near entrance to the reserve to find yet another difficult antpitta.
Friday, November 7: Jorupe to Zapotillo to Celica to Pinas where we stay in a hotel. This ride included a stop at the old town dump of Zapotillo which, as hot, dusty and unpleasant as it might be, harbored one of the best birds of the trip, the Tumbes Tyrant, another bird believed to have been a Peruvian endemic until it was found here.
Saturday, November 8: From Pinas, we return to the Buenaventura Reserve and bird the main trail (not the washed out road); several good birds here, including the endangered El Oro Parakeet, made a splendid finale to the trip. At 11:30 am we begin the long drive back to Guayaquil with lunch stop in Santa Rosa
Sunday, November 9: Return to New York; non-stop flight on LAN Ecuador
BIRD LIST (* = life bird)
Gray Tinamou (Tinamus tao) – from blind at Copalinga, 10/29; this is considered a difficult bird, restricted to mature forests; the Copalinga bird performed an elaborate threat display to drive away two Gray-fronted Doves that were coming in to feed. Vulnerable.
HLittle Tinamou (Crypturellus soul) – heard at Yankuam; 11/2
HPale-browed Tinamou (C. transfasciatus) – seen by some but only heard by me at Jorupe on 10/13
Horned Screamer (Anhima comuta) – seen on first day out of Guayaquil at Manglares Churute (10/27)
Comb Duck (Sarkidiornis melanotos) – On Macara River at Peru border 11/6; considered rare & local
White-cheeked Pintail (Anas bahamensis) – Equasal ponds, 10/26
Blue-winged Teal (Anas discors) – Equasal ponds, 10/26
*Rufous-headed Chachalaca (Ortalis erythroptera) – seen and heard on several days at Umbrellabird Lodge, Jorupe 10/27,29, ll/6. Vulnerable
Speckled Chachalaca (O. guttata) – Yankaum? 10/31, 11/2
HRufous-fronted Wood-Quail (Odontophorus erythrops) – heard at Umbrellabird Lodge 10/27,29
Least Grebe (Tacybaptus dominicus) – Parque El Lago 10/25
Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps) – Parque El Lago, Equasal ponds 10/25,26
*Chilean Flamingo (Phoenicopterus chilensis) – Equasal ponds 10/26
Wood Stork (Mycteria americana) – Manglares Churute 10/27
Magnficent Frigatebird (Fregeta americana) – Parque El Lago, Santa Elena, Manglares Churute 10/25-27
Blue-footed Booby (Sula nebouxii) – Santa Elena 10/26
Peruvian Booby (S. variegata) – Santa Elena 10/26
Neotropic Cormorant (Phalacrocorax basilianus) – Parque El Lago, Santa Elena, Manglares Churute, Rio Macara 10/25-27, 11/16
Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) – Parque El Lago, Santa Elena 10/25,26
Peruvian Pelican (Pelecanus thagus) – Santa Elena 10/26
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron (Nyctanassa violacea) – Equasal ponds 10/26
Striated Heron (Butorides striata) – Parque El Lago, Rio Macara 10/25, 11/12
Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) – many locations from shore to uplands
Cocoi Heron (Ardea cocoi) – Parque El Lago, Equasal ponds, Rio Macara, rd to Pinas 10/25,26, 11/6,7
Great Egret (A, alba) – Parque El Lago, Equasal ponds, Manglares Churute, Rio Macara, rd to Pinas, Buenaventura 10/25-27, 11/6-8
Tricolored Heron (Egretta tricolor) – Equasal ponds 10/26
Snowy Egret (E. thula) – same locations as Great Egret
Little Blue Heron (E. caerulea) – Parque El Lago, road to Pinas 10/25, 11/7
White Ibis (Eudocimus albus) – Equasal ponds, Manglares Churute 10/26,27
Roseate Spoonbill (Platalea ajaja) – Parque El Lago, Equasal ponds, Buenaventura 10/25,26, 11/8
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) – almost every day
Greater Yellow-headed Vulture (C. melambrotus) – Yankuam 11/1,2
Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus) – almost every day
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) – Parque El Lago 10/25
White-tailed Kite (Elanus leucurus) – Parque El Lago, Manglares Churute 10/25,27
Pearl Kite (Gampsonyux swainsonii) – Manglares Churute, roadside wire (somewhere on road from Jorupe to Pinas?) 10/27, 11/7
Gray-headed Kite (Leptodon cayanensis) – Podocarpus Nat’l Park 10/30 (or near river?)
Swallow-tailed Kite (Elanoides forficatus) – Yankuam, road to Tapichalaca (or was it on the ride to Jorupe?) 10/9,10, 12
Snail Kite (Rostrhamus sociabilis) – Manglares Churue 10/27, Buenaventura Rd? 11/8
Plumbeous Kite (Icticia plumbea) – Yankuam 10/31, 11/1,2
*Plain-breasted (Sharp-shinned) Hawk (Accipiter ventralis [striatus]) – road from Umbrellabird Lodge 10/29
Savanna Hawk (Buteogallus meridionalis) – Parque El Lago, Santa Elena, Rio Macara, road to Pinas 10/25,26, 11/6,7
Roadside Hawk (Rupornis magnirostris) – several locations both in lowlands and in foothills 10/25,26 11/2,7
Harris’s Hawk (Parabuteo unicinctus) – Santa Elena, Rio Macara? 10/26, 11/6
Variable Hawk (Buteo poysoma) – Santa Elena, road from Jorupe to Pinas? 10/26, 11/7
White Hawk (Leucopternis albicollis) – Yankuam 11/1
*Gray-backed Hawk (L. occidentalis) – Buenaventura 11/8 Endangered
Broad-winged Hawk (Buteo platypterus) – road from Jorupe to Pinas? 11/7
Short-tailed Hawk (B. brachyurus) – Yankuam, road to Jorupe 10/31, 11/1,5
Limpkin (Aramus guarauna) – Manglares Churute or another wetland from the road out 10/27
HBlackish Rail (Pardirallus nigricans) – heard from marsh back of gas station on road to Yankuam? 10/31
Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata) – road between Jorupe and Pinas? 11/7
Purple Gallinule (Porphyrio martinicus) – Parque El Lago 10/25
Black-bellied Plover (Pluvialis squatarola) – Equasal ponds 10/26
Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmaatus) – Equasal ponds 10/26
Wilson’s Plover (C. wilsonia) – Equasal ponds 10/26
Killdeer (C. vociferus) – Manglares Churute? 10/27
Snowy (Kentish) Plover (C. nivosus) – Equasal Ponds 10/26
Collared Plover (C. collaris) – Equasal Ponds 10/26
American Oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus) – Santa Elena coast 10/26
Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus) – Equasal Ponds, Manglares Churute, Rio Macara, road from Jorupe to Pinas 10/26,27 ll/7,8
Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) – Santa Elena coast, Equasal ponds 10/26
Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius) – Lago El Parque, Equasal ponds, Rio Macara, road from Jorups to Pinas (10/25,26 11/7,8
Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca) – Equasal ponds 10/26
Lesser Yellowlegs (T. flavipes) – Equasal ponds 10/26
Willet (T. semipalmata) – Equasal ponds 10//25
Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres) – Equasal ponds 10/26
Surfbird (Aphriza virgata) – Santa Elena coast 10/26
Sanderling (Calidris alba) -- Equasal ponds, Santa Elena coast 10/26
Semipalmated Sandpiper (C. pusilla) – Equasal ponds 10/26
Western Sandpiper (C. mauri) – Equasal ponds 10/26
Least Sandpiper (C. minutilla) – Equasal ponds 10/26
Wilson’s Phalarope (Phalaropus tricolor) – Equasal ponds 10/26
Wattled Jacana (Jacana jacana) – Parque El Lago, Manglares Churute 10/25,27
Gray-hooded Gull (Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus) – Santa Elena 10/26
Gray Gull (Leucophaeus modestus) -- Santa Elena 10/26
Franklin’s Gull (Leucophaeus pipixcan) – Santa Elena (Equasal?) 10/26
Kelp Gull (Larus dominicanus) – Santa Elena coast 10/26
Gull-billed Tern (Gelochelidon nilotica) – Equasal ponds 10/26
Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus) – Santa Elena 10/26
Ecuadorian Ground-Dove (Columbina buckleyi) – Parque El Lago, Manglares Churute? 10/25,27
Croaking Ground-Dove (C. cruziana) – Santa Elena, Tapichalaca, Rio Macara, etc. 10/26 11/5-7
Blue Ground-Dove (Claravis pretiosa) – Tapichalaca 11/6
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia) – widespread in towns
Band-tailed Pigeon (Patagioenas fasciata) – Tapichalaca (other highland areas?) 11/3-5
Plumbeous Pigeon (P. plumbea) – Copalinga, Yankuam, Tapichalaca 10/30 ll/1,4
Ruddy Pigeon (P. subvinacea) – Yankuam, Buenaventura 11/1,8
West Peruvian Dove (Zenaida meloda) – Santa Elena area 10/26
Eared Dove (Z. auriculata) – several road locations 11/5,7
White-tipped Dove (Leptotila verreauxi) – Parque El Lago, Jorupe 10/25, 11/6,7
Gray-fronted Dove (L. pallida) – 2 birds approaching feeder but flushed by Gray Tinamou, Copalinga 10/29
White-throated Quail-Dove (Geotrygon frenata) – Tapichalaca (Tocotoco trail) 11/4. After this was seen at a feeding site on the Tocotoco Trail, an injured bird was picked up by Gary on the road, apparently hit by a car.
Lorna Salzman
Squirrel Cuckoo (Playa cayana) – many locales incl. 10/28,30,31, ll/1,2
Smooth-billed Ani (Crotophaga ani) – common in lowlands
Groove-billed Ani (C. sulcirostris) – replaces Smooth-billed in southern uplands
HPeruvian Screech-Owl (Megascops roboratus) – heard only at Jorupe 11/6,7
HSpectacled Owl (Pulsatrix perspicillata) – heard only at Jorupe 11/7
HBand-bellied Owl (P. melanota) – heard only at Yankuam (or Copalinga?) 11/2
*Black-and-white Owl (Ciccaba nigrolineata) – Umbrellabird Lodge 10/27,28
Peruvian Pygmy-Owl (Glaucidium peruanum) – Lago El Lago, Santa Elena, Tapichalaca 10/25-27, 11/5
Common Pauraque (Nyctidromus albicollis) – Copalinga 10/30,31 11/3
Blackish Nightjar (Caprimulgus nigrescens) – Copalinga 10/30 an Eastern bird and very local
Chestnut-collared Swift (Streptoprocne rutila) – Tapichalaca area 11/4
White-collared Swift (S. zonaris) – several locations incll. 10/27, 11/1,2,7 the only easily identified swift (because of size)
Gray-rumped Swift (Chaetura cinereiventris) – Buenaventura 10/28
(*)Short-tailed (Tumbes) Swift (C. brachyuran ocyptes) – El Lago, Jorupe or Rio Macara 10/25, 11/6 The Eastern ssp may be a separate species
White-necked Jacobin (Florisuga mellivora) – Umbrellabird Lodge (Buenaventura) 10/27-29
[White-tipped Sicklebill (Eutoxeres condamini) – Yankuam 11/1 seem by some but not by me]
[Gray-chinned Hermit (Phaethornis ruber) – 10/31 seen by some but not by me]
White-whiskered Hermit (P. yaruqui) – Umbrellabird Lodge 10/28
Green Hermit (P. guy) – Copalinga Lodge 10/29-31 11/2
Long-billed Hermit (P. longirostris) – Umbrellabird Lodge? 10/27
Brown Violetear (Colibri delphinae) – Umbrellabird Lodge, Copalinga 10/27,28,30
Sparkling Violetear (C. coruscans) – Umbrellabird Lodge, Copalinga 10/28-31
Black-eared Fairy (Heliothryx auritus) – Copalinga, Yamkuam 10/30 11/1,2
*Amethyst-throated Sunangel (Heliangelus amethysticollis) – Tapichalaca 11/4
*Little (Flame-throated) Sunangel (H. micraster) – Tapichalaca 11/3,4
[Wire-crested Thorntail (Discosura popelairii) – 10/31 seen by others but not by me]
Green Thorntail (D. conversii) – 10/27-29
*Ecuadorian Piedtail (Phlogophilus hemileucurus) – Copalinga 10/30. Vulnerable.
Long-tailed Sylph (Aglaiocercus kingi) – Tapichalaca 11/4
Violet-tailed Sylph (A. coelestis) – Copalinga, Buenaventura 10/30 11/8
Tyrian Metaltail (Metallura tyrianthina) – Copalinga? 11/3
[Glowing Puffleg (Eriocnemis vestita) – Tapichalaca or Copalinga 11/3 seen by others but not by me]
Collared Inca (Coeligena torquata) – Tapichalaca 11/4-5
Buff-winged Starfrontlet (C. lutetiae) – Tapichalaca 11/3
Chestnut-breasted Coronet (Boissonneaua matthewsii) – Tapichalaca 11/3-5
*Black-throated Brilliant (Heliodoxa schreibersii) – Copalinga 10/29-30
Fawn-breasted Brilliant (H. rubinoides) – Umbrellabird Lodge 10/27
Green-crowned Brilliant (H. jacula) – Umbrellabird Lodge 10/27-28
Long-billed Starthroat (Heliomaster longirostris) – Umbrellabird Lodge, Jorupe 10/27, 11/6-7
[White-bellied Woodstar (Chaetocercus mulsant) – Jorupe? 11/5 seen by others but not by me]
*Little Woodstar (C. bombus) – Yankuam? 10/31. Vulnerable.
[Short-tailed Woodstar (Myrmia micrura) – Umbrellabird Lodge? 10/27 seen by others but not by me]
*Violet-headed Hummingbird (Klais guimeti) – Copalinga 10/30, 11/2
Green-crowned Woodnymph (Thalurania fannyi) – Umbrellabird Lodge 10/27
Fork-tailed Woodnymph (T. furcata) – Copalinga 10/30-31
*Tumbes Hummingbird (Leucippus baeri) – somewhere on the road back 11/7
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird (Amazilia tzacati) – Umbrellabird Lodge 10/27-29
Amazilia Hummingbird (A. amazilia) – Parque El Lago, Santa Elena, Manglares Churute, Tapichalaca, Jorupe 10/25,27 11/3,6-7
Andean Emerald (A. franciae) – Umbrellabird Lodge, Copalinga? 10/27-30
Glittering-throated Emerald (A. fimbriata) – Copalinga 10/29, 11/2
Golden-tailed Sapphire (Chrysuronia oenone) – Copalinga 10/29-30, 11/2
Violet-bellied Hummingbird (Damophila julie) – Umbrellabird Lodge 10/27-29 (30+ hummers)
Golden-headed Quetzal (Pharomachrus auriceps) – road to Tapichalaca, Buenaventura 11/5,8
*Ecuadorian Trogon (Trogon mesurus) – Manglares Cherute?, Umbrellabird Lodge? 10/27,29
Green-backed Trogon (T. viridis) – Tapichalaca (or road to) 10/31 Split from the White-tailed Trogon
*Amazonian Trogon (T. ramonianus) – Yankuan 11/1 This is a split from the Violaceous Trogon (T. violaceus)
HCollared Trogon (T. collaris) – Buenaventura? 11/8 heard only
Masked Trogon (T. personatus) – Tapichalaca 11/3,4
Ringed Kingfisher (Megaceryle torquata) – Parque El Lago, Manglares Cherute? Rio Bombuscaro, Rio Macara 10/25,27,30 11/6,7
Green Kingfisher (Chloroceryle americana) – Parque El Lago, Manglares Cheruta, Rio Macara 10/25,27 11/6
Broad-billed Motmot (Electron platyrhynchum) – Umbrellabird Lodge 10/28
Rufous Motmot (Baryphthengus martii) – Umbrellabird Lodge 10/28
Whooping Motmot (Momotus subrufescens) – Parque El Lago, Umbrellabird or Copalinga, Jorupe 10/25,29 11/6,7
Andean Motmot (M. aequaltorialis) – where? 11/3
*Coppery-chested Jacamar (Galbula pastzae) – Copalinga (Podacarpus) 10/30. Vulnerable.
Purplish Jacamar (G. chalcothorax) -- Yankuam 10/31 11/1,2
White-necked Puffbird (Notharchus hyperrhynchus) – Yankuam 11/1
Barred Puffbird (Nystalus radiatus) – Umbrellabird or Copalinga Lodge 10/29
Gilded Barbet (Capito auratus) – Yankuam 11/1
Lemon-throated Barbet (Eubucco richardsoni) – Copalinga or Yankaum? 10/31
HRed-headed Barbet (E. bourcierii) – Copalinga (Podacarpus) 10/30 heard only
*Black-mandibled Toucan (Ramphastos ambiguus) – Umbrellabird Lodge 10/27-29
HChoco Toucan (R. brevis) – Umbrellabird Lodge 10/27-28 heard only
Channel-billed Toucan (R. vitellinus) – Yankaum 10/31, 11/1
Emerald Toucanet (Aulacorhynchus presinus) – Tapichalaca or below Valladolid 11/4
HGray-breasted Mountain-Toucan (Andigena hypoglauca) – Tapichalaca or below Valladolid 11/4 heard only
Golden-collared Toucanet (Selenidera reinwardtii) – seen perched in deep foliage with only pieces visible from different angles; side road at Yankaum 11/2
Collared Aracari (Pteroglassus torquatus) – Umbrellabird Lodge? 10/27
[Many-banded Aracari (P. pluricinctus) – Yankuam? 11/1 seen by others but not by me]
*Ecuadorian Piculet (Picumnus sclateri) – Jorupe 11/6
*Olivaceous Piculet (P. olivaceus) – Umbrellabird Lodge 10/28,29
Yellow-tufted Woodpecker (Melanerpes cruentatus) – Yankuam 10/31, 11/1
Smoky-brown Woodpecker (Picoides fumigatus) – somewhere on last day 11/8
Scarlet-backed Woodpecker (Veniliornis callonotus) – Jorupe 11/6
Golden-Olive Woodpecker (Colaptes rubiginosus) – Parque El Lago, Umbrellabird Lodge, Jorupe 10/25,29 11/7
Crimson-mantled Woodpecker (C. rivolii) – Tapichalaca 11/3,4
Lineated Woodpecker (Dryocopus lineatus) – Copalinga or Yankuam?, Tapichalaca 10/31, 11/3
Crimson-crested Woodpecker (Campephilius melanoleucos) – Yankuam? 10/31, 11/2
Guayaquil Woodpecker (C. gayaquilensis) – Jorupe 11/6. Near Threatened
Laughing Falcon (Herpetotheres cachinnans) – Santa Elena, Manglares Churute, Jorupe (or by river?) 10/26,27 11/6
Crested Caracara (Caracara cheriway) – Santa Elena, Manglares Churute, Rio Macara, road from Jorupe? 10/26,27 11/6,7
American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) – Santa Elena 10/26
Bat Falcon (F. rufigularis) – Jorupe 11/6
*Red-masked Parakeet (Aratinga erythrogenys) – Manglares Churute, Umbrellabird Lodge 10/27,28 11/6-8 Near Threatened
White-eyed Parakeet (A. leucophthalma) – Yankuam, Tapichalaca 11/1,2,5
*El Oro Parakeet (Pyrrhura orcesi) – Buenaventura 11/8 Endemic & Endangered.
*White-necked Parakeet (P. albipectus) – Copalinga? 10/29-30
Dusky-billed Parrotlet (Forpus modestus) -- Copalinga or Yankuam 10/31
Pacific Parrotlet (F. coelestis) – Parque El Lago, Santa Elena, Jorope, Buenaventura or road back 10/25-26 11/5,7-8
*Gray-cheeked Parakeet (Brotogeris pyrrhoptera) – Manglares Churute, Jorupe 10/27, 11/6 Endangered
Cobalt-winged Parakeet (B. cyanoptera) – Yankuam 11/1,2
Blue-headed Parrot (Pionus menstruus) – Yankuam 10/31, 11/1,2
Bronze-winged Parrot (P. chalcopterus) – Manglares Churute, Umbrellabird Lodge, Buenaventura? 10/27-29, 11/8
Mealy Parrot (Amazona farinosa) – Yankuam 11/1
*Chapman’s Antshrike (Thamnophilus zarumae) – road to Jorupe? 11/5
HLined Antshrike (T. tenuepunctatus) – Yankuam 10/31 heard only
Collared Antshrike (T. bernardi) – Santa Elena, Jorupe 10/26, 11/6
Western Slaty-Antshrike (T. atrinucha) – Umbrellabird Lodge 10/28,29
Plain-winged Antshrike (T. schistaeus) – Yankuaum 11/1
Uniform Antshrike (T. unicolor) – Buenaventura 11/8
HWhite-shouldered Antshrike (T. aethiops) – Yankuam? 10/31 heard only
Plain Antvireo (Dysithamnus mentalis) – Jorupe? 11/6
Slaty Antwren (Myrmotherula schisticolor) – Umbrellabird Lodge 10/28
[Gray Antwren (M. menetriesii) – Yankuam 11/2 seen by others but not by me]
*Rufous-winged Antwren (Herpsilochmus rufimarginatus) – Yankuam 10/31-11/2
HPeruvian Warbling-Antbird (Hypocnemis peruviana) – Yankuam 10/31 heard only
HBlack Antbird (Cercomacra serva) – Yankuam 10/31 heard only
*Jet Antbird (C. nigricans) – Manglares Cherute or Umbrella Lodge? 10/27
White-browed Antbird (Myrmoborus leucophrys) – Ynakuam 11/1
[Chestnut-backed Antbird (Myrmeciza exsul) – Umbrellabird Lodge 10/28 seen by others but not by me]
*Esmeraldas Antbird (M. nigricauda) – Umbrellabird Lodge 10/28
*Undulated Antpitta (Grallaria squamigera) – Tapichalaca 11/4
HScaled Antpitta (G. guatimalensis) – Buenaventura 11/8 heard only
HPlain-backed Antpitta (G. haplonota) – Copalinga 10/30 heard only
*Watkin’s Antpitta (G. watkinsi) – Jorupe 11/7. Near threatened.
*Jocotoco Antpitta (G. ridgelyi) – Tapichalaca 11/4. Endangered.
HChestnut-naped Antpitta (G. ridgelyi) – Tapichalaca 11/4 heard only
[Ash-colored Tapaculo or Blackish Tapaculo (Myiornis senilis or Scytalopus latrans) – Tapichalaca 11/4 seen by others but not by me]
Spillman’s Tapaculo (S. spillmanni) – Tapichalaca 11/3-4
*Chusquea Tapaculo (S. parkeri) – Tapichalaca 11/3
Olivaceous Woodcreeper (Sittasomus griseicapillus) – Copalinga, Tapichalaca, Jorupe 10/29-30 11/4,6
Plain-brown Woodcreeper (Dendrocincla fuliginosa) – Umbrellabird Lodge 10/28-29
Wedge-billed Woodcreeper (Glyphorynchus spirurus) – Yankuam 10/31, 11/2
Spotted Woodcreeper (Xiphorhynchus erythropygius) – Umbrellabird Lodge 10/28-29
[Red-billed Scythebill (Campylorhamphus trochilirostris) – Yankuam 11/5 seen by others but not by me]
Streak-headed Woodcreeper (Lepidocolaptes souleyetii) – Umbrellabird or Copalinga, Jorupe 10/29, 11/6
Montane Woodcreeper (L. lacryimiger) – Copalinga or Tapichalaca 11/3
Lineated Woodcreeper (L. albolineatus) – Yankuam 11/1
Streaked Xenops (Xenops rutilans) – Umbrellabird Lodge 10/28
Streaked Tuftedcheek (Pseudocolaptes boissoneautii) – Tapichalaca 11/4
Pale-legged (Pacific) Hornero (Furnarius leucopus) – widespread in lowlands 10/25-27, 11/5-8
Dusky-cheeked (Bamboo) Foliage-gleaner (Anabazenops dorsalis) – Yankuam 11/1
Rufous-rumped Foliage-gleaner (Philydor erythrocercum) – Yankuam 11/1-2
Scaly-throated Foliage-gleaner (Anabacerthia variegaticeps) – Umbrellabird Lodge, Buenaventura 10/28, 11/8
Montane Foliage-gleaner (A. striaticollis) – Copalinga (Podacarpus) 10/30
HRufous-necked Foliage-gleaner (Syndactyla ruficollis) – Jorupe 11/6 heard only. Vulnerable
HRuddy Foliage-gleaner (Automolus rubiginosus) – Yankuam 11/2 heard only
Pearled Treerunner (Margarornis squamiger) – Tapichalaca 11/3,4
Rufous-fronted Thornbird (Phacellodomus rufifrons) – Tapichalaca 11/4
*Mouse-colored Thistletail (Asthenes griseomurina) – Tapichalaca 11/3
[Ash-browed Spinetail (Cranioleuca curtata) – Copalinga 10/30 seen by others but not by me]
Line-cheeked Spinetail (C. antisiensis) – Umbrellabird or Copalinga? 10/29
Azara’s Spinetail (Synallaxis azarae) – Umbrellabird Lodge, Copalinga or Tapichalaca?, Jorupe 10/28-29 11/3,8
Dark-breasted Spinetail (S. albigularis) – Copalinga or Yankuam? 10/31
Rufous Spinetail (S. unirufa) – Copalinga or Tapichalaca 11/3
Slaty Spinetail (S. brachuyura) – Umbrellabird Lodge 10/28-29
*Blackish-headed Spinetail (S. tithys) – Jorupe 11/6. Endangered.
HDusky Spinetail (S. moesta) – Yankuam? 10/31 heard only
Necklaced Spinetail (S. stictothorax) – Santa Elena 10/26
[Sooty-headed Tyrannulet (Phyllomyias griseiceps) – Umbrellabird Lodge 10/28 seen by others but not by me]
Black-capped Tyrannulet (P. nigrocapillus) – Tapichalaca 11/4
Ashy-headed Tyrannulet (P. cinereiceps) -- ?? Tapichalaca 11/5
HYellow-crowned Tyrannulet (Tyrannulus elatus) – Yankuam 11/1 heard only
*Foothill Elaenia (Myiopagis olallai) – Copalinga 10/30. Vulnerable.
*Pacific Elaenia (M. subplacens) – Umbrellabird Lodge, Jorupe 10/29, 11/6
Greenish Elaenia (M. viridicata) – Umbrellabird Lodge 10/29
Yellow-bellied Elaenia (Elaenia flavogaster) – Tapichalaca? 11/4
White-crested Elaenia (E. albiceps) -- Tapichalaca? 11/5
[Small-billed Elaenia (E. parvirostris) – ? Copalinga? 10/30 seen by others but not by me]
Mottle-backed Elaenia (E. gigas) – Yankuam, Tapichalaca (below Valladolid) 11/1,4
Southern Beardless-Tyrannulet (Camptostoma obsoletum) – widespread 10/25-29, 11/6-8
[White-tailed Tyrannulet (Mecocerculus poecilocercus) – Tapichalaca? 11/4 seen by others but not by me]
White-banded Tyrannulet (M. stictopterus) – Copalinga? 11/3
Torrent Tyrannulet (Serpophaga cinerea) – Rio Nangaritza? 11/2
Yellow Tyrannulet (Pseudotriccus pelzelni) – Umbrellabird Lodge 10/29
*Tawny-crowned Pygmy-Tyrant (Euscarthmus melorhyphus) – Santa Elena 10/26
Golden-faced Tyrannulet (Zimmerius chrysops) – Copalinga, Tapichalaca? 10/30, 11/5
Marble-faced Bristle-Tyrant (Phylloscartes ophthalmicus) – Umbrellabird Lodge 10/28
*Ecuadorian Tyrannulet (P. qualaquizae) – Umbrellabird Lodge , Copalinga 10/29,30, 11/1. Near threatened.
Olive-striped Flycatcher (Mionectes olivaceus) – Umbrellabird Lodge, Copalinga? Buenaventura 10/28-29, 11/8
Slaty-capped Flycatcher (Lepopogon superciliaris) – Umbellabird Lodge, Copalinga, Benaventura 10/28,30 11/8
Ornate Flycatcher (Myioriccus ornatus) – Umbrellabird Lodge, Copalinga, Buenaventura 10/28, 30-31, 11/8
*White-bellied Pygmy-Tryant (Myiornis albivenris) -- Yankuam (a Peruvian bird recently found here) 11/2
Scale-crested Pygmy-Tyrant (Lophotriccus pileatus) – Umbrellabird Lodge 10/27-28
[Black-throated Tody-Tyrant (Hemitriccus granadensis) – Tapichalaca 11/4 seen by others but not by me]
*Black-and-white Tody-Flycatcher (Poecilotriccus capitalis) – Yankuam 11/1
*Golden-winged Tody-Flycatcher (P. calopterus) – Yankuam 10/31-11/2
Common Tody-Flycatcher (T. cinereum) – widespread 10/27-11/4
HBrownish Twistwing (Cnipodectes subbrunneus) – Manglares Churute, Umbrellabird Lodge 10/27,29 heard only
Yellow-olive Flycatcher (Tolmomyias sulphurescens) – Umbrellabird Lodge, Jorupe 10/28-29, 11/6
HYellow-breasted Flycatcher (T. flaviventris) – Yankuam 10/31 heard only
HRoyal Flycatcher (Onychorhynchus coronatus) – Manglares Churute? 10/27 heard only
[Olive-chested Flycatcher (Myiophobus cryptoxanthus) – Yankuam 11/1 seen by others but not by me]
Bran-colored Flycatcher (M. fasciatus) – Manglares Churute, Jorupe 10/27, 11/6
[Tawny-breasted Flycatcher (Myiobius villosus) – Umbrellabird Lodge 10/28 seen by others but not by me]
Black-tailed Flycatcher (M. atricaudus) – Umbrellabird Lodge? 10/29
Cinnamon Flycatcher (Pyrrhomyias cinnamomeus) – Tapichalaca 11/3-4
Cliff Flycatcher (Hirundinea ferruginea) – Tapichalaca? 11/3
*Orange-banded Flycatcher (Nephelomyias lintoni) – Tapichalaca (road below Valladolid?) 11/4 Near Threatened
Olive-sided Flycatcher (Contopus cooperi) – Umbrellabird Lodge, Yankuam 10/28, 11/1
HSmoke-colored Pewee (C. fumgatus) – Copalinga? 10/31 heard only
Western Wood-Pewee (C. sordidulus) – Yankuam 11/1
Eastern Wood-Pewee – (C. virens) – Yankuam 11/1
Tumbes (Tropical) Pewee (C. punensis [cinereus]) – Jorupe 11/6 possible split
*Blackish Pewee (C. nigrescens) – Yankuam 11/1
Black Phoebe (Sayornis nigricans) – Parque El Lago, Manglares Churute (or Umbrellabird Lodge?) 10/25,27, 11/7
Vermilion Flycatcher (Pyrocephalus rubinus) – Parque El Lago, Manglares Churute, road from Jorupe 10/25,27, 11/7
*Rufous-tailed Tyrant (Knipolegus poecilurus) – Tapichalaca??? 11/5
Smoky Bush-Tyrant (Miotheretes fumigatus) – Tapichalaca or road below 11/4
Masked Water-Tyrant (Fluvicola nengeta) – Parque El Lago 10/25
*Tumbes Tyrant (Tumbezia salvini) – old town dump near Zapotillo 11/7. This bird was formerly considered a Peruvian endemic but this dry, dusty, disheartening spot has an Ecuadorian population of this attractive Tumbesian bird. Near threatened.
[Yellow-bellied Chat-Tyrant (Ochthoeca diadema) – Tapichalaca 11/4 seen by others but not by me]
Slaty-backed Chat-Tyrant (O. cinnamomeiventris) – Tapichalaca 11/5
Long-tailed Tyrant (Colonia colonus) – Yankuam?, Tapichalaca? 10/31, 11/ 2,4
Short-tailed Field Tyrant (Muscigralla brevicauda) – Santa Elena 10/26
Piratic Flycatcher (Legaus leucophalus) – Copalinga 10/29-30
Rusty-margined Flycatcher (Myiozetetes cayanensis) – Manglares Churute? 10/27
Social Flycatcher (M. similis) – Parque El Lago, Manglares Churute , Copalinga?, Tapichalaca? 10/25,27,31, 11/4
Gray-capped Flycatcher (M. granadensis) – Yankuam 11/1
Dusky-chested Flycatcher (M. luteiventris) – Yankuam 11/1
Great Kiskadee (Pitangus sulphuratus) – Yankuam 10/31, 11/2
Lemon-browed Flycatcher (Conopias cinchoneti) – Yankuam 11/1. Vulnerable.
*Baird’s Flycatcher (Myiodynastes bairdii) – Parque El Lago, road from Jorupe 10/25, 11/7
Boat-billed Flycatcher (Megarynchus pitanga) – many locales 10/28-29, 11/1,6-7
Snowy-throated Kingbird (Tyrannus niveigularis) – Parque El Lago, Manglares Churute 10/25,27
Tropical Kingbird (T. melancholicus) – widespread 10/25,27-31, 11/1-2, 4-5, 7-8
Dusky-capped Flycatcher (Myiarchus tuberculifer) – Umbrellabird Lodge, Yankuam, Tapichalaca, Buenaventura 10/27-29 11/1, 4,8
Sooty-crowned Flycatcher (M. phaeocephalus) – Manglares Churute 10/27
Sharpbill (Oxyruncus cristatus) – Yankuam 11/1 – 3 birds seen by me and one other person in the garden of the Yankuam Lodge. Although Gary has never seen it here, the only Ecuadorian range for this bird is in this area (first identified in this area by Ted Parker, I believe) and the species is unmistakable.
Green-and-black Fruiteater (Pipreola riefferii) – 11/4
HGray-tailed Piha (Snowornis subalaaris) – 11/1 heard only
*Long-wattled Umbrellabird (Cephalopterus penduliger) – Umbrellabird Lodge 10/27 two or three birds displaying inside the forest, bouncing up and down, showing the inflated and lengthening wattle and giving strange calls. Vulnerable.
Spangled Cotinga (Cotinga cayana) – 11/1
HDwarf Tyrant-Manakin (Tyranneutes stolzmanni) – Yankuam 11/1 heard only
Club-winged Manakin (Machaeropterus deliciosus) – Umbrellabird Lodge 10/28-29
*Striped Manakin (M. regulus) – Copalinga 10/30, 11/1
[Blue-rumped Manakin (Lepidothrix coronata) – Copalinga 10/30 seen by others but not by me]
HWhite-bearded Manakin (Manacus manacus) – Umbrellabird Lodge 10/27-29 heard only
*Green Manakin (Xenopipo holochlora) – Buenaventura 11.8
Golden-headed Manakin (Pipra erythrocephala) – Copalinga 10/30
Black-crowned Tityra (Tityra inquisitor) – Yankuam 11/2
Masked Tityra (T. cayana) – Yankuam 11/1-2
White-browed Purpletuft (Iodopleura isabellae) – Yankuam !1/1-2
*Yellow-cheeked (Green-backed) Becard (Pachyramphus viridis [xanthogenys) – Yankuam, Tapichalaca 10/31-11/14. There are differences of opinion on the relationship between these forms but the South American Classification Committee of the AOU (SACC) lists this bird as Green-backed.
[Barred Becard (P, versicolor) – Tapichalaca 11/4 seen by others but not by me]
*Slaty Becard (P. spodiurus) – Jorupe 11/6. Endangered.
Cinnamon Becard (P. cinnamomeus) – Umbrellabird Lodge 10/28,29
[White-winged Becard (P. polychopterus) – Copalinga 10/31 seen by others but not by me]
One-colored Becard (P. homocrhous) – Umbrellabird Lodge, Buenaventura 10/28-29, 11/8
*Wing-barred Piprites (Piprites chloris) – Yankuam 11/1
Rufous-browed Peppershrike (Cyclarhis gujanensis) – Parque El Lago, Manglares Churute, Jorupe 10/25,27 11/4-6
*Slaty-capped Shrike-Vireo (Vireolanius leucotis) – Yankuam? 10/31 (Least Concern)
Brown-capped Vireo (Vireo leucophrys) – Copalinga or Tapicalaca?, Buenaventura 11/3,5,8
Red-eyed Vireo (V. olivaceus) – Umbrellabird Lodge 10/28-29 (resident or migrant?)
*Olivaceous Greenlet (Hylophilus olivaceus) – Copalinga 10/30,31. Near Threatened.
Lesser Greenlet (H. decurtatus) – Umbrellabird Lodge 10/28-29
Turquoise Jay (Cyaolyca turcosa) – Copalinga or Tapichalaca? 11/3
Violaeceous Jay (Cyanocorax violaceus) – Yankuam 10/31-11/2
Green (Inca) Jay (C. yncas) – Copalinga, Tapichalaca 10/30, 11/4-5
*White-tailed Jay (C. mystacalis) – Jurupe 11/6-7 common at the lodge feeders
Blue-and-white Swallow (Pygochelidon cyanoleuca) – widespread in higher areas 10/28-11/5,8
Brown-bellied Swallow (Orochelidon murina) – Copalinga or Tapichalaca? 11/3
*Pale-footed Swallow (Atticora fasciata) – Tapichalaca 11/4
White-banded Swallow (A. fasciata) – Yankuam (on Rio Nangaritsa 11/2
Southern Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx ruficollis) – Umbrellabird Lodge, Copalnga, Jorupe, Buenaventura 10/28,30-31 11/6-8
Gray-breasted Martin (Progne chalybe) – Parque El Lago, Santa Elena, Manglares Churute, Umbrellabird, Buenaventura 10/25-27,29, 11/8 (probably elsewhere)
Chestnut-collared Swallow (Petrochelidon rufocollaris) – colony on church in Carianenga? 11/5
HScaly-breasted (Nightingale) Wren (Microcerculus marginatus) – Yankuam 11/2 heard only
House Wren (Troglodytes aedon) – widespread 10/25-27,31 11/6-7 (probably elsewhere as well)
Mountain Wren (T. solstitialis) – Tapichalaca? 11/4
Fasciated Wren (Campylorhynchus fasciatus) – Parque El Lago, Umbrellabird Lodge, Jorupe 10/25,27-29 11/6-7
Thrush-like Wren (C. turdinus) – Yankuam 11/1-2
*Plain-tailed Wren (Pheugopedius (Thyrothorus) euophrys) – Tapichalaca 11/4
Whiskered Wren (P. (T.) mystacalis) – Jorupe 11/7
HCoraya Wren (P. (T.) coraya) – Yankuam 10/31 11/1-2 heard only
*Speckle-breasted Wren (P. (T.) sciateri) – Umbrellabird Lodge? Jorupe10/29 11/6
HBay Wren (Cantorchilus sigricapillus) – Umbrellabird Lodge, Buenaventura 10/28-29 11/8 heard only
Superciliated Wren (C. superciliaris) – Santa Elena, Manglares Churute 10/26-27
Rufous Wren (Cinnycerthia olivascens) – Tapichalaca 11/3-4
HWhite-breasted Wood-Wren (Henichorhina leucosticta) – 10/31 11/2 heard only
Gray-breasted Wood-Wren (H. leucophrys) – Tapichalaca, Buenaventura 11/4-5,8
Song Wren (Cyphorhinus phaeocephalus) – Umbrellabird Lodge? 10/28
Tropical Gnatcatcher (Polioptile plumbea) – Santa Elena, Umbrellabird Lodge, Jorupe 10/26-27,29 11/5-7
Black-capped Donacobius (Donacobius atricapilla) – wetlands somewhere on road to Yankuam 10/31
White-capped Dipper (Cinclus leucocephaus) – from bridge on road to Cajanuma sector of Podocarpus Nat’l Park 11/3
Andean Solitaire (Myadestes ralloides) – heard on 10/28 (Umbrellabird Lodge), seen on 11/8 (Buenaventura)
Swainson’s Thrush (Catharus ustulatus) – Copalinga, Yankuam, Buenaventura 10/29-11/1,8
*Plumbeous-backed Thrush (Turdus reevei) – Jorupe 11/6
Ecuadorian Thrush (T. maculirostris) – Jorupe 11/6-7
[Black-billed Thrush (T. ignobilis) – Copalinga, Yankuam 10/30-31, 11/2 seen by others but not by me]
*Mara̱on Thrush (T. maranonicus) РTapichalaca 11/4 another Peruvian bird that just barely gets into Ecuador
Great Thrush (T. nigriceps) – Tapichalaca 11/3-5
Chiguanco Thrush (T. chiguanco) – Tapichalaca 11/5
White-necked Thrush (T. albicollis) – Copalinga 10/30, 11/3
Long-tailed Mockingbird (Mimus longicaudatus) – common in lowland, Tumbesian area 10/26-27,29, 11/5-7
Black-faced Tanager (Schistochlamys melanopis) – Tapichalaca 11/4 another Peruvian bird that just barely gets into Ecuador
Magpie Tanager (Cissopis leverianus) – Copalinga, Yankuam 10/30, 11/1-2
Black-capped Hemispingus (Hemispingus atropileus) – Tapichalaca 11/4
Gray-hooded Bush-Tanager (Cnemoscopus rubrirostris) – Yankuam, Tapichalaca 11/2,4
Rufous-chested Tanager (Thlypopsis ornata) – Tapichalaca 11/4
Flame-crested Tanager (Tachyphonus cristatus) – Yankuam 11/1
White-shouldered Tanager (T. luctuosus) – Umbrellabird Lodge 10/28-29
Tawny-crested Tanager (T. delatrii) – Copalinga? 10/30
White-lined Tanager (T. rufus) – Yankuam 11/1,2
Silver-beaked Tanager (Ramphocelus carbo) – Copalinga, Yankuam 10/29-11/2
Lemon-rumped (Flame-rumped) Tanager (R. icteronotus [flammigerus]) – 10/27-29, 11/8 split from the Flame-rumped Tanager of Colombia accepted by Ridgely and Jocotoco guide
Blue-gray Tanager (Thraupis episcopus) – Umbrellabird Lodge (coelestis), Coplalinga & Yankuam (quaesita), Jorupe (coelestis) 10/25,27-11/2,4-7
Palm Tanager (T. palmarum) – Copalinga, Yankuam 10/29-11/2
*Orange-throated Tanager (Wetmorethraupis sterrhopteron) – Yankuam 10/31,11/1, a large, colorful tanager formerly thought to be endemic to a small, remote area of Peru, this species can now be much more easily (and safely) seen on the Ecuador side. Vulnerable.
Hooded Mountain-Tanager (Buthraupis montans) – Tapichalaca 11/4
*Black-chested Mountain-Tanager (B. eximia) – Tapichalaca? 11/3
Lacrimose Mountain-Tanager (Anisognathus lacrymosus) – Tapichalaca 11/3-4
Grass-green Tanager (Chlorornis riefferii) – Tapichalaca 11/4
Buff-breasted Mountain-Tanager (Dubusia taeniata) – Tapichalaca 11/4
Fawn-breasted Tanager (Pipraeidea melanonota) – Buenaventura 11/8
Orange-eared Tanager (Chlorochrysa calliparaea) – Copalinga 10/30
*Silvery (Silver-backed) Tanager (Tangara viridicollis) – Tapichalaca, Jorupe 11/4-5,7
Masked Tanager (T. nigrocincta) – Yankuam, road to Tapichalaca 11/1,2
Blue-necked Tanager (T. larvata) – Copalinga, Yamkuam, Tapichalaca 10/29-11/2,4
Yellow-bellied Tanager (T. xanthogastra) – Yankuam 11/1-2
Spotted Tanager (T. punctata) – Copalinga 10/29-30
[Blue-and-black Tanager (T. vassorii) – Tapichalaca 11/3-4 seen by others but not by me]
Beryl-spangled Tanager (T. nigroviridis) – Umbrellabird Lodge, Copalinga 10/28,30
Turquoise Tanager (T. mexicana) – Yankuam 11/2
Paradise Tanager (T. chilensis) – Copalinga, Yankuam 10/29-11/2
Opal-rumped Tanager (T. velia) – Yankuam? 10/31
Bay-headed Tanager (T. gyrola) – Umbrellabird Lodge, Copalinga, Yankuam 10/28-11/1,8
Golden-eared Tanager (T. chrysotis) – Copalinga 10/30
Flame-faced Tanager (T. parzudakii) – Umbrellabird Lodge or Copalinga, Buenaventura 10/29, 11/8
Green-and-gold Tanager (T. schrankii) – Copalinga, Yankuam 10/29-11/2
Golden Tanager (T. arthus) – Umbrellabird Lodge, Copalinga, Buenaventura 10/28-30, 11/8
Silver-throated Tanager (T. icterocephala) – Umbrellabird Lodge, Buenaventura 10/28, 11/8
Swallow Tanager (Tersina viridis) – Coplalinga, Yankuam 10/29-30, 11/1
Black-faced (Yellow-tufted) Dacnis (Dacnis lineata) – Copalinga, Yankuam (lineata) 10/30-11/2
Yellow-bellied Dacnis (D. flaviventer) – Yankuam 10/31-11/2
Blue Dacnis (D. cayana) – Yankuam 10/31, 11/2
Purple Honeycreeper (Cyanerpes caeruleus) – Yankuam 10/31-11/2
Green Honeycreeper (Chlorophanes spiza) – Umbrellabird Lodge, Copalinga, Yankuam 10/27-11/2
*Golden-collared Honeycreeper (Iridophanes pulcherrimus) – Copalinga? 10/30
Guira Tanager (Hemithraupis flavicollis) – Umbrellabird Lodge 10/28-29
Yellow-backed Tanager (H. flavicollis) – Yankuam 11/2
Blue-backed Conebill (Conirostrum sitticolor) – Tapichalaca 11/4
Capped Conebill (C. albifrons) – Tapichalaca? 11/3?
Glossy Flowerpiercer (Diglossa ) – Tapichalaca 11/3
White-sided Floweriercer (D.) – Tapichalaca 11/3,4
Rusty Flowerpiercer (D. sittoides) – Tapichalaca 11/3
Masked Flowerpiercer (D. cyanea) – Tapichalaca 11/4-5
*Plushcap (Catamblyrhynchus diadema) – Tapichalaca 11/3
Collared Warbling-Finch (Poospiza hispaniolensis) – Santa Elena 10/26
Saffron Finch (Sicalis flaveola) – Parque El Lago, Jurupe (Macara) 10/25, 11/6
Blue-black Grassquit (Volatina jacarina) – road from Coplinga, Yankuam, rd below Jurupe 10/31, 11/2,7
Variable Seedeater (Sporophila corvina) – Umbrellabird Lodge area 10/27-29
Yellow-bellied Seedeater (S. nigricollis) – Umbrellabird Lodge, Tapichalaca 10/28, 11/4
Parrot-billed Seedeater (S. peruviana) – Santa Elena 10/26
Chestnut-bellied Seedeater (S. castaneiventris) – Yankuam 11/1-2
Chestnut-throated Seedeater (S. telasco) – Jorupe 11/7
Chestnut-bellied Seed-Finch (Oryzoborus angolensis) – Copalinga or Yankuam? 10/31
Plain-colored Seedeater (Catamenia inornata) – Umbrellabird Lodge 10/28
Red-crested (-pileated) Finch (Coryphospingus cucullatus) – Yankuam 11/1
Crimson-breasted Finch (Rhodospingus cruentus) – Umbrellabird Lodge, Copalinga 10/27,29, 31
Bananaquit (Coereba faveola) – Copalinga, Yankuam, Jurupe 10/27-30, 11/1,7
Dull-colored Grassquit (Tiaris obscurus) – Tapilacha 11/4
[Yellow-shouldered Grosbeak (Pakerthraustes humeralis) – Copalinga or Yankuam? 10/31 seen by others but not by me]
Slate-colored Grosbeak (Saltator grossus) – Copalinga? Yankuam 10/31, 11/2
Buff-throated Saltator (S. maximum) – Umbrellabird Lodge, Copalinga, Buenaventura 10/27-31, 11/8
Black-winged Saltator (S. atripennis) – Umbrellabird Lodge, Copalinga 10/28, 11/7
Grayish Saltator (S. coerulescens) – Yankuam 10/31-11/1
*Black-cowled Saltator (S. nigriceps) – Jorupe 11/5,7
Streaked Saltator (S. striatipectus) – Tapichalaca, Jorupe (other Tumbesian areas?) 11/4,6
Rufous-collared Sparrow (Zonotrichia capensis) – Umbrellabird Lodge, Tapichalaca, Jorupe 10/28, 11/3-5,7
Yellow-browned Sparrow (Ammodramus aurifrons) – Copalinga, Yankuam 10/30-11/2
*Tumbes Sparrow (Rhynchospiza stolzmanni) – Jorupe or area 11/5
HBlack-striped Sparrow (Arremonops conirostris) – Umbrellabird Lodge or Copalinga? 10/29 heard only
Orange-billed Sparrow (Arremon aurantiirostris) – Umbrellabird Lodge 10/28
*Black-capped Sparrow (A. abeillei) – Jorupe 11/6
Pale-naped Brush-Finch (Atlapetes pallidinucha) – Tapichalaca 11/4
Tricolored Brush-Finch (A. tricolor) – Umbrellabird Lodge 10/28
Yellow-breasted Brush-Finch (A. latinuchus) – Tapichalaca 11/3-4
White-winged Brush-Finch (A. leucopterus) – Jorupe or area 11/7
[White-headed Brush-Finch (A. pallidiceps) – Tumbes area 11/7 my big miss of the trip; seen by others but not by me (I was too exhausted to climb the last hot dusty hill!]
Common Bush-Tanager (Chlorospingus ophthalmicus) – Umbrellabird Lodge, Jorupe, Buenaventura 10/28, 11/7-8
Yellow-throated Bush-Tanager (C. flavigularis) – Umbrellabird Lodge, Copalinga 10/27-30
Ashy-throated Bush-Tanager (C. canigularis) – Copalinga 10/30
(Highland) Hepatic Tanager (Piranga flava) – Jorupe 11/6-7
Summer Tanager (P. rubra) – Copalinga 10/30-31
Scarlet Tanager (P. olivacea) – Yankuam? 10/31
*Red-hooded Tanager (P. rubriceps) – Copalinga or Tapichalaca 11/3
Golden-bellied (Southern Yellow) Grosbeak (Pheucticus chrysogaster) – Parque El Lago, Santa Elena, Umbrellabird Lodge 10/25-26,29
*Blue-black Grosbeak (Cyanocompsa cyanoides) – Umbrellabird Lodge 10/29
Tropical Parula (Parula pitiayumi) – Manglares Churute?, Umbrellabird Lodge, Copalinga, Tapichalaca, Jorupe, Buenaventura 10/27-30, 11/4,6,8
[Blackpoll Warbler (Dendroica striata) – Copalinga 10/30 seen by others but not by me]
Blackburnian Warbler (D. fusca) – Copalinga, Tapichalaca? Jorupe 10/30, 11/3,6
Olive-crowned Yellowthroat (Geothlypis semiflava) – Umbrellabird Lodge or area 10/29
[Canada Warbler (Wilsonia canadensis) – Copalinga 10/30 see by others but not by me]
Slate-throated Redstart (Whitestart) (Myioborus miniatus) – Umbrellabird Lodge, Copalinga, Tapichalaca 10/28,30 11/3-5
Spectacled Redstart (Whitestart) (M. melanocephalus) – Tapichalaca? 11/4
*Gray-and-gold Warbler (Basileuterus fraseri) – Umbrellabird Lodge, Jorupe, Buenaventura 10/28-29, 11/6-8
Citrine Warbler (B. luteoviridis) – Tapichalaca 11/4
Black-crested Warbler (B. nigrocristatus) – Tapichalaca 11/3-4
Russet-crowned Warbler (B. coronatus) – Copalinga or Tapichalaca, 11/3 (seen by some), 11/5 (heard)
*Three-banded Warbler (B. trifasciatus) – Tapichalaca? 11/3,5
Three-striped Warbler (B. tristriatus) – Jorupe? Buenaventura 11/3,5,7-8
Buff-rumped (Riverbank) Warbler (Phaeothlypis fulvicauda) – Copalinga , Yankuam 10/30-31, 11/1-2
Russet-backed Oropendola (Psarocolius angustifrons) – Copalinga, Yankuam 10/30-31, 11/1-2
Crested Oropendola (P. decumanus) – Copalinga, Yankuam 10/29-11/2
Yellow-rumped Cacique (Cacicus cela) – Parque El Lago, Yankuam 10/25,31-11/1-2
White-edged Oriole (Icterus graceannae) – Parque El Lago, Santa Elena, Jorupe 10/25-26,11/6-7
Yellow-tailed Oriole (I. mesomelas) – Jorupe 11/6
Epaulet Oriole (I. cayanensis) – Yankuam? 10/31 This bird is not listed for Ecuador in any of the books; the confusion is apparently due to the fact that it has been very recently lumped with the Moriche Oriole which is now considered a ssp of the Epaulet!
Scrub Blackbird (Dives warszewiczi) – Parque El Lago, Santa Elena, Manglares Churute, Umbrellabird Lodge, Jorupe area, etc. 10/25-27,29? 11/5-6
Shiny Cowbird (Molothrus bonariensis) – Parque El Lago, Santa Elena, Manglares Churute 10/25-57
Great-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus) – Parque El Lago, Santa Elena 10/25-26
Peruvian Meadowlark (Sturnella bellicosa) – Santa Elena 10/26
*Saffron Siskin (Sporagra siemiradzkii) – Jorupe Jorupe 11/6 Vulnerable
*Orange-crowned Euphonia (Euphonia saturata) – Parque El Lago, Umbrellabird Lodge, Yankuam 10/25,27-28 11/2
Thick-billed Euphonia (E. laniirostris) – Copalinga, Jorupe, Buenaentura 10/29-31, 11/6-8
Golden-rumped Euphonia (E. cyanocephala) – Copalinga, Tapichalaca 10/29, 11/5
Golden-bellied (White-lored) Euphonia (E. chrysopasta) – Yankuam 11/1
Bronze-green Euphonia (E. mesochrysa) – Copalinga or Yankuam? 10/30
White-vented Euphonia (E. minuta) – Yankuam 11/1-2
Orange-bellied Euphonia (E. xanthogaster) – Manglares Churuta? Copalinga, Yankaum, Buenaventura 10/27,29-30 11/1,8
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) – widespread in towns
515 birds seen or heard by entire group (something under 500 for me)
72 life birds
ALSO SEEN
Guayaquil Squirrel -- Jorupe
Mantled Howler Monkey
Common Squirrel Monkey – Rio Macara
Coatamundi – Umbrellabird Lodge
Eric Salzman
14 Randall Lane
P.O. Box 775
East Quogue NY 11942
631 653-3387
es@ericsalzman.com
www.ericsalzman.com
October 24, 2014, to November 9, 2014
with Gary Rosenberg.
South America is the Bird Continent and the largest number of species can be found in the Andean countries between Colombia and Peru. Colombia is the champ with close to 2000 species (20% of the world’s birds); it also has the largest number of endemics and near-endemics (restricted area species) and, less glamorously, some of the most threatened species. Peru and Brazil are not far behind in this competition but ‘little’ Ecuador, with over 1650 species, easily takes the prize for species density or, if you prefer, species per square inch! Ecuador is also a pretty safe place and it is fairly well set up for eco-tourism. This all started with the Galapagos but it has since extended to cover the cloud forests of the Andes, the Amazonian lowlands east of the mountains and the coastal areas of the west. New threats to the environment – oil extraction in the Amazonian areas, mining in the cloud forest – are endangering this delicate balance, not least because they have government sponsorship and foreign investment. But for the moment, Ecuador remains very high on most birders’ lists.
A major player in this game is the Jocotoco Foundation which was originally established to protect a small population of a newly discovered antpitta – named Jocotoco (‘Hocotoco’) from its call – that was discovered relatively recently and occupies only a very restricted range. The foundation has now established a series of notable reserves, mostly in the south (although one is on the slopes of the Volcano Pinchicha just outside of Quito), and protecting habitat essential for the survival of several threatened species. These supplement the existing National Parks and Reserves which cover some 18% of the country.
We have made several trips to Ecuador but this was the first time we visited the south. The trip began in the once notorious port city of Guayaquil, today the largest and most bustling urban center in Ecuador. It took us from the coastal areas to the foothills and then higher slopes of the mountains whose cloud forests guard many rich forms of life. At our farthest reach, we were in the Cordillera del Condor in the eastern foothills of Amazonia and close to the Peruvian border. Jorupe, also near the border of Peru but to the west, preserves a remarkable dry ‘Tumbesian’ forest with its own special forms of life. In between were preserves and parks at various elevations in the foothills and higher reaches of the mountains.
Our guide was Gary Rosenberg, an experienced ornithologist and genial trip leader, with a superb ear, a quick draw on the spotting scope and a lot of experience with Ecuadorian birds. Just what is needed to find skulking birds in the dense jungle foliage!
Unfortunately, I never had the opportunity to check many of the exact locales with Gary; hence the many question marks in the species list. The dates and bird names are accurate but not always the exact spot of the sighting.
ITINERARY:
Friday, October 24, 2014: arrival in Guayaquil via Miami. Grand Hotel Guayaquil.
Saturday, October 25: morning trip to Parque El Lago, a local reservoir and park just outside of Guayquil. Overnight again at the Grand Hotel Guayaquil.
Sunday, October 26: Santa Elena Peninsula: dry forest, coastal areas, salinas (Equasal ponds) Again night at the Grand Hotel Guayaquil.
Monday, October 27: Departure from Guayaquil to Manglares Churute (Churute Mangrove Ecological Preserve, a wetlands area near Guayaquil); then a drive to Santa Rosa with a stop for lunch; afterwards to Umbrellabird Lodge at 500 meters in the Buenaventura Reserve, a rare example of forested foothills on the Western slope of the Andes. This is a Jocotoco Foundation lodge and, in addition to the spectacular Long-wattled Umbrellabird and many other species, it has open hummingbird feeder trays surrounding an open porch/dining area and these attract unbelievable numbers of hummers and many other birds, as well as a whole family of coatis.
Tuesday, October 28: All day at the Umbrellabird Lodge and Buenaventura Reserve; morning from the lodge up the road; in the afternoon to the upper area along the old highway; part of this was almost washed away leaving only a very narrow, precarious path that was a bit scary to cross.
Wednesday, October 29: Roadside birding below Umbrellabird Lodge in the early morning and then a long drive to Copalinga Lodge arriving in mid-afternoon; late afternoon birding on the Tinamou Trail. Copalinga is a beautifully run private ecolodge less than 3 km from the Bombuscaro entrance to Podocarpus National Park. This locale is at c. 1000 meters and is considered an extension of the Eastern slope of the Andes so it has a different set of birds.
Thursday, October 30: All day at Copalinga, in Podacarpus National Park and on the Rio Bombuscaro.
Friday, October 31: Copalinga in the morning before driving to Yankaum on the Nangaritza River at the base of the Cordillera del Condor; afternoon on the road on the east side of the river. Until recently, the road ended at the lodge but there is now a bridge across the river and a road that goes into still heavily forested areas on the other side. There is a striking sculpture on the bridge depicting Arutam, a spirit being, riding his toucan which will fly him home to the top of Cordillera del Condor (see picture below). Besides toucans and many birds of eastern and Amazonian affinities, the bird life here includes species previously known only from Peru; the target bird is the Orange-throated Tanager, a spectacular tanager in its own genus, previously known only from a remote and dangerous part of Peru.
Saturday, November 1: All day on the road from Yankuam with a siesta break enabling me to observe the tanagers and other birds feeding on a fruiting tree in the lodge garden; the lodge itself could use a little sprucing up but the activity in the gardens and around the buildings was dynamic. It was here that I saw a trio of Sharpbills, a bird barely known from this corner of Ecuador (discovered here by the legendary Theodore Parker shortly before his death in a plane crash); this was probably my best sighting of the trip.
Sunday, November 2: Road from Yankuam in the morning; drive back to Copalinga in the afternoon.
Monday, November 3: Copalinga to Loja with stop on the bridge to the Cajanuma sector of Podocarpus National Park; afterwards drive to Tapichalaca with birding stops (Quebrada Honda Trail); Casa Simpson is a Jocotoco lodge at 2500 meters on the eastern slope of the Andes and on the grounds of the Tapichalaca Reserve, the site of the discovery of the Jocotoco Antpitta (Grallaria ridgelyi) in 1997 which was the original impetus for the Jocotoco Foundation.
Tuesday, November 4: All day at the Tapichalaca Reserve; Jocotoco Trail in the morning; road below Valladolid in the afternoon
Wednesday, November 5: Road from Tapichalaca (towards Valladolid) in the morning; then long ride to the Jorupe Reserve with occasional birding stops (via Cariamanga); night at the Jocotoco Foundation’s Urraca or White-tailed Jay Lodge in the middle of a dry Tumbesian forest dominated by the fantastical ceiba tree.
Thursday, November 6: Jorupe all morning; bridge to Peru over Macara River in the early afternoon; then trail near entrance to the reserve to find yet another difficult antpitta.
Friday, November 7: Jorupe to Zapotillo to Celica to Pinas where we stay in a hotel. This ride included a stop at the old town dump of Zapotillo which, as hot, dusty and unpleasant as it might be, harbored one of the best birds of the trip, the Tumbes Tyrant, another bird believed to have been a Peruvian endemic until it was found here.
Saturday, November 8: From Pinas, we return to the Buenaventura Reserve and bird the main trail (not the washed out road); several good birds here, including the endangered El Oro Parakeet, made a splendid finale to the trip. At 11:30 am we begin the long drive back to Guayaquil with lunch stop in Santa Rosa
Sunday, November 9: Return to New York; non-stop flight on LAN Ecuador
BIRD LIST (* = life bird)
Gray Tinamou (Tinamus tao) – from blind at Copalinga, 10/29; this is considered a difficult bird, restricted to mature forests; the Copalinga bird performed an elaborate threat display to drive away two Gray-fronted Doves that were coming in to feed. Vulnerable.
HLittle Tinamou (Crypturellus soul) – heard at Yankuam; 11/2
HPale-browed Tinamou (C. transfasciatus) – seen by some but only heard by me at Jorupe on 10/13
Horned Screamer (Anhima comuta) – seen on first day out of Guayaquil at Manglares Churute (10/27)
Comb Duck (Sarkidiornis melanotos) – On Macara River at Peru border 11/6; considered rare & local
White-cheeked Pintail (Anas bahamensis) – Equasal ponds, 10/26
Blue-winged Teal (Anas discors) – Equasal ponds, 10/26
*Rufous-headed Chachalaca (Ortalis erythroptera) – seen and heard on several days at Umbrellabird Lodge, Jorupe 10/27,29, ll/6. Vulnerable
Speckled Chachalaca (O. guttata) – Yankaum? 10/31, 11/2
HRufous-fronted Wood-Quail (Odontophorus erythrops) – heard at Umbrellabird Lodge 10/27,29
Least Grebe (Tacybaptus dominicus) – Parque El Lago 10/25
Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps) – Parque El Lago, Equasal ponds 10/25,26
*Chilean Flamingo (Phoenicopterus chilensis) – Equasal ponds 10/26
Wood Stork (Mycteria americana) – Manglares Churute 10/27
Magnficent Frigatebird (Fregeta americana) – Parque El Lago, Santa Elena, Manglares Churute 10/25-27
Blue-footed Booby (Sula nebouxii) – Santa Elena 10/26
Peruvian Booby (S. variegata) – Santa Elena 10/26
Neotropic Cormorant (Phalacrocorax basilianus) – Parque El Lago, Santa Elena, Manglares Churute, Rio Macara 10/25-27, 11/16
Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) – Parque El Lago, Santa Elena 10/25,26
Peruvian Pelican (Pelecanus thagus) – Santa Elena 10/26
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron (Nyctanassa violacea) – Equasal ponds 10/26
Striated Heron (Butorides striata) – Parque El Lago, Rio Macara 10/25, 11/12
Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) – many locations from shore to uplands
Cocoi Heron (Ardea cocoi) – Parque El Lago, Equasal ponds, Rio Macara, rd to Pinas 10/25,26, 11/6,7
Great Egret (A, alba) – Parque El Lago, Equasal ponds, Manglares Churute, Rio Macara, rd to Pinas, Buenaventura 10/25-27, 11/6-8
Tricolored Heron (Egretta tricolor) – Equasal ponds 10/26
Snowy Egret (E. thula) – same locations as Great Egret
Little Blue Heron (E. caerulea) – Parque El Lago, road to Pinas 10/25, 11/7
White Ibis (Eudocimus albus) – Equasal ponds, Manglares Churute 10/26,27
Roseate Spoonbill (Platalea ajaja) – Parque El Lago, Equasal ponds, Buenaventura 10/25,26, 11/8
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) – almost every day
Greater Yellow-headed Vulture (C. melambrotus) – Yankuam 11/1,2
Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus) – almost every day
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) – Parque El Lago 10/25
White-tailed Kite (Elanus leucurus) – Parque El Lago, Manglares Churute 10/25,27
Pearl Kite (Gampsonyux swainsonii) – Manglares Churute, roadside wire (somewhere on road from Jorupe to Pinas?) 10/27, 11/7
Gray-headed Kite (Leptodon cayanensis) – Podocarpus Nat’l Park 10/30 (or near river?)
Swallow-tailed Kite (Elanoides forficatus) – Yankuam, road to Tapichalaca (or was it on the ride to Jorupe?) 10/9,10, 12
Snail Kite (Rostrhamus sociabilis) – Manglares Churue 10/27, Buenaventura Rd? 11/8
Plumbeous Kite (Icticia plumbea) – Yankuam 10/31, 11/1,2
*Plain-breasted (Sharp-shinned) Hawk (Accipiter ventralis [striatus]) – road from Umbrellabird Lodge 10/29
Savanna Hawk (Buteogallus meridionalis) – Parque El Lago, Santa Elena, Rio Macara, road to Pinas 10/25,26, 11/6,7
Roadside Hawk (Rupornis magnirostris) – several locations both in lowlands and in foothills 10/25,26 11/2,7
Harris’s Hawk (Parabuteo unicinctus) – Santa Elena, Rio Macara? 10/26, 11/6
Variable Hawk (Buteo poysoma) – Santa Elena, road from Jorupe to Pinas? 10/26, 11/7
White Hawk (Leucopternis albicollis) – Yankuam 11/1
*Gray-backed Hawk (L. occidentalis) – Buenaventura 11/8 Endangered
Broad-winged Hawk (Buteo platypterus) – road from Jorupe to Pinas? 11/7
Short-tailed Hawk (B. brachyurus) – Yankuam, road to Jorupe 10/31, 11/1,5
Limpkin (Aramus guarauna) – Manglares Churute or another wetland from the road out 10/27
HBlackish Rail (Pardirallus nigricans) – heard from marsh back of gas station on road to Yankuam? 10/31
Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata) – road between Jorupe and Pinas? 11/7
Purple Gallinule (Porphyrio martinicus) – Parque El Lago 10/25
Black-bellied Plover (Pluvialis squatarola) – Equasal ponds 10/26
Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmaatus) – Equasal ponds 10/26
Wilson’s Plover (C. wilsonia) – Equasal ponds 10/26
Killdeer (C. vociferus) – Manglares Churute? 10/27
Snowy (Kentish) Plover (C. nivosus) – Equasal Ponds 10/26
Collared Plover (C. collaris) – Equasal Ponds 10/26
American Oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus) – Santa Elena coast 10/26
Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus) – Equasal Ponds, Manglares Churute, Rio Macara, road from Jorupe to Pinas 10/26,27 ll/7,8
Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) – Santa Elena coast, Equasal ponds 10/26
Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius) – Lago El Parque, Equasal ponds, Rio Macara, road from Jorups to Pinas (10/25,26 11/7,8
Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca) – Equasal ponds 10/26
Lesser Yellowlegs (T. flavipes) – Equasal ponds 10/26
Willet (T. semipalmata) – Equasal ponds 10//25
Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres) – Equasal ponds 10/26
Surfbird (Aphriza virgata) – Santa Elena coast 10/26
Sanderling (Calidris alba) -- Equasal ponds, Santa Elena coast 10/26
Semipalmated Sandpiper (C. pusilla) – Equasal ponds 10/26
Western Sandpiper (C. mauri) – Equasal ponds 10/26
Least Sandpiper (C. minutilla) – Equasal ponds 10/26
Wilson’s Phalarope (Phalaropus tricolor) – Equasal ponds 10/26
Wattled Jacana (Jacana jacana) – Parque El Lago, Manglares Churute 10/25,27
Gray-hooded Gull (Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus) – Santa Elena 10/26
Gray Gull (Leucophaeus modestus) -- Santa Elena 10/26
Franklin’s Gull (Leucophaeus pipixcan) – Santa Elena (Equasal?) 10/26
Kelp Gull (Larus dominicanus) – Santa Elena coast 10/26
Gull-billed Tern (Gelochelidon nilotica) – Equasal ponds 10/26
Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus) – Santa Elena 10/26
Ecuadorian Ground-Dove (Columbina buckleyi) – Parque El Lago, Manglares Churute? 10/25,27
Croaking Ground-Dove (C. cruziana) – Santa Elena, Tapichalaca, Rio Macara, etc. 10/26 11/5-7
Blue Ground-Dove (Claravis pretiosa) – Tapichalaca 11/6
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia) – widespread in towns
Band-tailed Pigeon (Patagioenas fasciata) – Tapichalaca (other highland areas?) 11/3-5
Plumbeous Pigeon (P. plumbea) – Copalinga, Yankuam, Tapichalaca 10/30 ll/1,4
Ruddy Pigeon (P. subvinacea) – Yankuam, Buenaventura 11/1,8
West Peruvian Dove (Zenaida meloda) – Santa Elena area 10/26
Eared Dove (Z. auriculata) – several road locations 11/5,7
White-tipped Dove (Leptotila verreauxi) – Parque El Lago, Jorupe 10/25, 11/6,7
Gray-fronted Dove (L. pallida) – 2 birds approaching feeder but flushed by Gray Tinamou, Copalinga 10/29
White-throated Quail-Dove (Geotrygon frenata) – Tapichalaca (Tocotoco trail) 11/4. After this was seen at a feeding site on the Tocotoco Trail, an injured bird was picked up by Gary on the road, apparently hit by a car.
Lorna Salzman
Squirrel Cuckoo (Playa cayana) – many locales incl. 10/28,30,31, ll/1,2
Smooth-billed Ani (Crotophaga ani) – common in lowlands
Groove-billed Ani (C. sulcirostris) – replaces Smooth-billed in southern uplands
HPeruvian Screech-Owl (Megascops roboratus) – heard only at Jorupe 11/6,7
HSpectacled Owl (Pulsatrix perspicillata) – heard only at Jorupe 11/7
HBand-bellied Owl (P. melanota) – heard only at Yankuam (or Copalinga?) 11/2
*Black-and-white Owl (Ciccaba nigrolineata) – Umbrellabird Lodge 10/27,28
Peruvian Pygmy-Owl (Glaucidium peruanum) – Lago El Lago, Santa Elena, Tapichalaca 10/25-27, 11/5
Common Pauraque (Nyctidromus albicollis) – Copalinga 10/30,31 11/3
Blackish Nightjar (Caprimulgus nigrescens) – Copalinga 10/30 an Eastern bird and very local
Chestnut-collared Swift (Streptoprocne rutila) – Tapichalaca area 11/4
White-collared Swift (S. zonaris) – several locations incll. 10/27, 11/1,2,7 the only easily identified swift (because of size)
Gray-rumped Swift (Chaetura cinereiventris) – Buenaventura 10/28
(*)Short-tailed (Tumbes) Swift (C. brachyuran ocyptes) – El Lago, Jorupe or Rio Macara 10/25, 11/6 The Eastern ssp may be a separate species
White-necked Jacobin (Florisuga mellivora) – Umbrellabird Lodge (Buenaventura) 10/27-29
[White-tipped Sicklebill (Eutoxeres condamini) – Yankuam 11/1 seem by some but not by me]
[Gray-chinned Hermit (Phaethornis ruber) – 10/31 seen by some but not by me]
White-whiskered Hermit (P. yaruqui) – Umbrellabird Lodge 10/28
Green Hermit (P. guy) – Copalinga Lodge 10/29-31 11/2
Long-billed Hermit (P. longirostris) – Umbrellabird Lodge? 10/27
Brown Violetear (Colibri delphinae) – Umbrellabird Lodge, Copalinga 10/27,28,30
Sparkling Violetear (C. coruscans) – Umbrellabird Lodge, Copalinga 10/28-31
Black-eared Fairy (Heliothryx auritus) – Copalinga, Yamkuam 10/30 11/1,2
*Amethyst-throated Sunangel (Heliangelus amethysticollis) – Tapichalaca 11/4
*Little (Flame-throated) Sunangel (H. micraster) – Tapichalaca 11/3,4
[Wire-crested Thorntail (Discosura popelairii) – 10/31 seen by others but not by me]
Green Thorntail (D. conversii) – 10/27-29
*Ecuadorian Piedtail (Phlogophilus hemileucurus) – Copalinga 10/30. Vulnerable.
Long-tailed Sylph (Aglaiocercus kingi) – Tapichalaca 11/4
Violet-tailed Sylph (A. coelestis) – Copalinga, Buenaventura 10/30 11/8
Tyrian Metaltail (Metallura tyrianthina) – Copalinga? 11/3
[Glowing Puffleg (Eriocnemis vestita) – Tapichalaca or Copalinga 11/3 seen by others but not by me]
Collared Inca (Coeligena torquata) – Tapichalaca 11/4-5
Buff-winged Starfrontlet (C. lutetiae) – Tapichalaca 11/3
Chestnut-breasted Coronet (Boissonneaua matthewsii) – Tapichalaca 11/3-5
*Black-throated Brilliant (Heliodoxa schreibersii) – Copalinga 10/29-30
Fawn-breasted Brilliant (H. rubinoides) – Umbrellabird Lodge 10/27
Green-crowned Brilliant (H. jacula) – Umbrellabird Lodge 10/27-28
Long-billed Starthroat (Heliomaster longirostris) – Umbrellabird Lodge, Jorupe 10/27, 11/6-7
[White-bellied Woodstar (Chaetocercus mulsant) – Jorupe? 11/5 seen by others but not by me]
*Little Woodstar (C. bombus) – Yankuam? 10/31. Vulnerable.
[Short-tailed Woodstar (Myrmia micrura) – Umbrellabird Lodge? 10/27 seen by others but not by me]
*Violet-headed Hummingbird (Klais guimeti) – Copalinga 10/30, 11/2
Green-crowned Woodnymph (Thalurania fannyi) – Umbrellabird Lodge 10/27
Fork-tailed Woodnymph (T. furcata) – Copalinga 10/30-31
*Tumbes Hummingbird (Leucippus baeri) – somewhere on the road back 11/7
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird (Amazilia tzacati) – Umbrellabird Lodge 10/27-29
Amazilia Hummingbird (A. amazilia) – Parque El Lago, Santa Elena, Manglares Churute, Tapichalaca, Jorupe 10/25,27 11/3,6-7
Andean Emerald (A. franciae) – Umbrellabird Lodge, Copalinga? 10/27-30
Glittering-throated Emerald (A. fimbriata) – Copalinga 10/29, 11/2
Golden-tailed Sapphire (Chrysuronia oenone) – Copalinga 10/29-30, 11/2
Violet-bellied Hummingbird (Damophila julie) – Umbrellabird Lodge 10/27-29 (30+ hummers)
Golden-headed Quetzal (Pharomachrus auriceps) – road to Tapichalaca, Buenaventura 11/5,8
*Ecuadorian Trogon (Trogon mesurus) – Manglares Cherute?, Umbrellabird Lodge? 10/27,29
Green-backed Trogon (T. viridis) – Tapichalaca (or road to) 10/31 Split from the White-tailed Trogon
*Amazonian Trogon (T. ramonianus) – Yankuan 11/1 This is a split from the Violaceous Trogon (T. violaceus)
HCollared Trogon (T. collaris) – Buenaventura? 11/8 heard only
Masked Trogon (T. personatus) – Tapichalaca 11/3,4
Ringed Kingfisher (Megaceryle torquata) – Parque El Lago, Manglares Cherute? Rio Bombuscaro, Rio Macara 10/25,27,30 11/6,7
Green Kingfisher (Chloroceryle americana) – Parque El Lago, Manglares Cheruta, Rio Macara 10/25,27 11/6
Broad-billed Motmot (Electron platyrhynchum) – Umbrellabird Lodge 10/28
Rufous Motmot (Baryphthengus martii) – Umbrellabird Lodge 10/28
Whooping Motmot (Momotus subrufescens) – Parque El Lago, Umbrellabird or Copalinga, Jorupe 10/25,29 11/6,7
Andean Motmot (M. aequaltorialis) – where? 11/3
*Coppery-chested Jacamar (Galbula pastzae) – Copalinga (Podacarpus) 10/30. Vulnerable.
Purplish Jacamar (G. chalcothorax) -- Yankuam 10/31 11/1,2
White-necked Puffbird (Notharchus hyperrhynchus) – Yankuam 11/1
Barred Puffbird (Nystalus radiatus) – Umbrellabird or Copalinga Lodge 10/29
Gilded Barbet (Capito auratus) – Yankuam 11/1
Lemon-throated Barbet (Eubucco richardsoni) – Copalinga or Yankaum? 10/31
HRed-headed Barbet (E. bourcierii) – Copalinga (Podacarpus) 10/30 heard only
*Black-mandibled Toucan (Ramphastos ambiguus) – Umbrellabird Lodge 10/27-29
HChoco Toucan (R. brevis) – Umbrellabird Lodge 10/27-28 heard only
Channel-billed Toucan (R. vitellinus) – Yankaum 10/31, 11/1
Emerald Toucanet (Aulacorhynchus presinus) – Tapichalaca or below Valladolid 11/4
HGray-breasted Mountain-Toucan (Andigena hypoglauca) – Tapichalaca or below Valladolid 11/4 heard only
Golden-collared Toucanet (Selenidera reinwardtii) – seen perched in deep foliage with only pieces visible from different angles; side road at Yankaum 11/2
Collared Aracari (Pteroglassus torquatus) – Umbrellabird Lodge? 10/27
[Many-banded Aracari (P. pluricinctus) – Yankuam? 11/1 seen by others but not by me]
*Ecuadorian Piculet (Picumnus sclateri) – Jorupe 11/6
*Olivaceous Piculet (P. olivaceus) – Umbrellabird Lodge 10/28,29
Yellow-tufted Woodpecker (Melanerpes cruentatus) – Yankuam 10/31, 11/1
Smoky-brown Woodpecker (Picoides fumigatus) – somewhere on last day 11/8
Scarlet-backed Woodpecker (Veniliornis callonotus) – Jorupe 11/6
Golden-Olive Woodpecker (Colaptes rubiginosus) – Parque El Lago, Umbrellabird Lodge, Jorupe 10/25,29 11/7
Crimson-mantled Woodpecker (C. rivolii) – Tapichalaca 11/3,4
Lineated Woodpecker (Dryocopus lineatus) – Copalinga or Yankuam?, Tapichalaca 10/31, 11/3
Crimson-crested Woodpecker (Campephilius melanoleucos) – Yankuam? 10/31, 11/2
Guayaquil Woodpecker (C. gayaquilensis) – Jorupe 11/6. Near Threatened
Laughing Falcon (Herpetotheres cachinnans) – Santa Elena, Manglares Churute, Jorupe (or by river?) 10/26,27 11/6
Crested Caracara (Caracara cheriway) – Santa Elena, Manglares Churute, Rio Macara, road from Jorupe? 10/26,27 11/6,7
American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) – Santa Elena 10/26
Bat Falcon (F. rufigularis) – Jorupe 11/6
*Red-masked Parakeet (Aratinga erythrogenys) – Manglares Churute, Umbrellabird Lodge 10/27,28 11/6-8 Near Threatened
White-eyed Parakeet (A. leucophthalma) – Yankuam, Tapichalaca 11/1,2,5
*El Oro Parakeet (Pyrrhura orcesi) – Buenaventura 11/8 Endemic & Endangered.
*White-necked Parakeet (P. albipectus) – Copalinga? 10/29-30
Dusky-billed Parrotlet (Forpus modestus) -- Copalinga or Yankuam 10/31
Pacific Parrotlet (F. coelestis) – Parque El Lago, Santa Elena, Jorope, Buenaventura or road back 10/25-26 11/5,7-8
*Gray-cheeked Parakeet (Brotogeris pyrrhoptera) – Manglares Churute, Jorupe 10/27, 11/6 Endangered
Cobalt-winged Parakeet (B. cyanoptera) – Yankuam 11/1,2
Blue-headed Parrot (Pionus menstruus) – Yankuam 10/31, 11/1,2
Bronze-winged Parrot (P. chalcopterus) – Manglares Churute, Umbrellabird Lodge, Buenaventura? 10/27-29, 11/8
Mealy Parrot (Amazona farinosa) – Yankuam 11/1
*Chapman’s Antshrike (Thamnophilus zarumae) – road to Jorupe? 11/5
HLined Antshrike (T. tenuepunctatus) – Yankuam 10/31 heard only
Collared Antshrike (T. bernardi) – Santa Elena, Jorupe 10/26, 11/6
Western Slaty-Antshrike (T. atrinucha) – Umbrellabird Lodge 10/28,29
Plain-winged Antshrike (T. schistaeus) – Yankuaum 11/1
Uniform Antshrike (T. unicolor) – Buenaventura 11/8
HWhite-shouldered Antshrike (T. aethiops) – Yankuam? 10/31 heard only
Plain Antvireo (Dysithamnus mentalis) – Jorupe? 11/6
Slaty Antwren (Myrmotherula schisticolor) – Umbrellabird Lodge 10/28
[Gray Antwren (M. menetriesii) – Yankuam 11/2 seen by others but not by me]
*Rufous-winged Antwren (Herpsilochmus rufimarginatus) – Yankuam 10/31-11/2
HPeruvian Warbling-Antbird (Hypocnemis peruviana) – Yankuam 10/31 heard only
HBlack Antbird (Cercomacra serva) – Yankuam 10/31 heard only
*Jet Antbird (C. nigricans) – Manglares Cherute or Umbrella Lodge? 10/27
White-browed Antbird (Myrmoborus leucophrys) – Ynakuam 11/1
[Chestnut-backed Antbird (Myrmeciza exsul) – Umbrellabird Lodge 10/28 seen by others but not by me]
*Esmeraldas Antbird (M. nigricauda) – Umbrellabird Lodge 10/28
*Undulated Antpitta (Grallaria squamigera) – Tapichalaca 11/4
HScaled Antpitta (G. guatimalensis) – Buenaventura 11/8 heard only
HPlain-backed Antpitta (G. haplonota) – Copalinga 10/30 heard only
*Watkin’s Antpitta (G. watkinsi) – Jorupe 11/7. Near threatened.
*Jocotoco Antpitta (G. ridgelyi) – Tapichalaca 11/4. Endangered.
HChestnut-naped Antpitta (G. ridgelyi) – Tapichalaca 11/4 heard only
[Ash-colored Tapaculo or Blackish Tapaculo (Myiornis senilis or Scytalopus latrans) – Tapichalaca 11/4 seen by others but not by me]
Spillman’s Tapaculo (S. spillmanni) – Tapichalaca 11/3-4
*Chusquea Tapaculo (S. parkeri) – Tapichalaca 11/3
Olivaceous Woodcreeper (Sittasomus griseicapillus) – Copalinga, Tapichalaca, Jorupe 10/29-30 11/4,6
Plain-brown Woodcreeper (Dendrocincla fuliginosa) – Umbrellabird Lodge 10/28-29
Wedge-billed Woodcreeper (Glyphorynchus spirurus) – Yankuam 10/31, 11/2
Spotted Woodcreeper (Xiphorhynchus erythropygius) – Umbrellabird Lodge 10/28-29
[Red-billed Scythebill (Campylorhamphus trochilirostris) – Yankuam 11/5 seen by others but not by me]
Streak-headed Woodcreeper (Lepidocolaptes souleyetii) – Umbrellabird or Copalinga, Jorupe 10/29, 11/6
Montane Woodcreeper (L. lacryimiger) – Copalinga or Tapichalaca 11/3
Lineated Woodcreeper (L. albolineatus) – Yankuam 11/1
Streaked Xenops (Xenops rutilans) – Umbrellabird Lodge 10/28
Streaked Tuftedcheek (Pseudocolaptes boissoneautii) – Tapichalaca 11/4
Pale-legged (Pacific) Hornero (Furnarius leucopus) – widespread in lowlands 10/25-27, 11/5-8
Dusky-cheeked (Bamboo) Foliage-gleaner (Anabazenops dorsalis) – Yankuam 11/1
Rufous-rumped Foliage-gleaner (Philydor erythrocercum) – Yankuam 11/1-2
Scaly-throated Foliage-gleaner (Anabacerthia variegaticeps) – Umbrellabird Lodge, Buenaventura 10/28, 11/8
Montane Foliage-gleaner (A. striaticollis) – Copalinga (Podacarpus) 10/30
HRufous-necked Foliage-gleaner (Syndactyla ruficollis) – Jorupe 11/6 heard only. Vulnerable
HRuddy Foliage-gleaner (Automolus rubiginosus) – Yankuam 11/2 heard only
Pearled Treerunner (Margarornis squamiger) – Tapichalaca 11/3,4
Rufous-fronted Thornbird (Phacellodomus rufifrons) – Tapichalaca 11/4
*Mouse-colored Thistletail (Asthenes griseomurina) – Tapichalaca 11/3
[Ash-browed Spinetail (Cranioleuca curtata) – Copalinga 10/30 seen by others but not by me]
Line-cheeked Spinetail (C. antisiensis) – Umbrellabird or Copalinga? 10/29
Azara’s Spinetail (Synallaxis azarae) – Umbrellabird Lodge, Copalinga or Tapichalaca?, Jorupe 10/28-29 11/3,8
Dark-breasted Spinetail (S. albigularis) – Copalinga or Yankuam? 10/31
Rufous Spinetail (S. unirufa) – Copalinga or Tapichalaca 11/3
Slaty Spinetail (S. brachuyura) – Umbrellabird Lodge 10/28-29
*Blackish-headed Spinetail (S. tithys) – Jorupe 11/6. Endangered.
HDusky Spinetail (S. moesta) – Yankuam? 10/31 heard only
Necklaced Spinetail (S. stictothorax) – Santa Elena 10/26
[Sooty-headed Tyrannulet (Phyllomyias griseiceps) – Umbrellabird Lodge 10/28 seen by others but not by me]
Black-capped Tyrannulet (P. nigrocapillus) – Tapichalaca 11/4
Ashy-headed Tyrannulet (P. cinereiceps) -- ?? Tapichalaca 11/5
HYellow-crowned Tyrannulet (Tyrannulus elatus) – Yankuam 11/1 heard only
*Foothill Elaenia (Myiopagis olallai) – Copalinga 10/30. Vulnerable.
*Pacific Elaenia (M. subplacens) – Umbrellabird Lodge, Jorupe 10/29, 11/6
Greenish Elaenia (M. viridicata) – Umbrellabird Lodge 10/29
Yellow-bellied Elaenia (Elaenia flavogaster) – Tapichalaca? 11/4
White-crested Elaenia (E. albiceps) -- Tapichalaca? 11/5
[Small-billed Elaenia (E. parvirostris) – ? Copalinga? 10/30 seen by others but not by me]
Mottle-backed Elaenia (E. gigas) – Yankuam, Tapichalaca (below Valladolid) 11/1,4
Southern Beardless-Tyrannulet (Camptostoma obsoletum) – widespread 10/25-29, 11/6-8
[White-tailed Tyrannulet (Mecocerculus poecilocercus) – Tapichalaca? 11/4 seen by others but not by me]
White-banded Tyrannulet (M. stictopterus) – Copalinga? 11/3
Torrent Tyrannulet (Serpophaga cinerea) – Rio Nangaritza? 11/2
Yellow Tyrannulet (Pseudotriccus pelzelni) – Umbrellabird Lodge 10/29
*Tawny-crowned Pygmy-Tyrant (Euscarthmus melorhyphus) – Santa Elena 10/26
Golden-faced Tyrannulet (Zimmerius chrysops) – Copalinga, Tapichalaca? 10/30, 11/5
Marble-faced Bristle-Tyrant (Phylloscartes ophthalmicus) – Umbrellabird Lodge 10/28
*Ecuadorian Tyrannulet (P. qualaquizae) – Umbrellabird Lodge , Copalinga 10/29,30, 11/1. Near threatened.
Olive-striped Flycatcher (Mionectes olivaceus) – Umbrellabird Lodge, Copalinga? Buenaventura 10/28-29, 11/8
Slaty-capped Flycatcher (Lepopogon superciliaris) – Umbellabird Lodge, Copalinga, Benaventura 10/28,30 11/8
Ornate Flycatcher (Myioriccus ornatus) – Umbrellabird Lodge, Copalinga, Buenaventura 10/28, 30-31, 11/8
*White-bellied Pygmy-Tryant (Myiornis albivenris) -- Yankuam (a Peruvian bird recently found here) 11/2
Scale-crested Pygmy-Tyrant (Lophotriccus pileatus) – Umbrellabird Lodge 10/27-28
[Black-throated Tody-Tyrant (Hemitriccus granadensis) – Tapichalaca 11/4 seen by others but not by me]
*Black-and-white Tody-Flycatcher (Poecilotriccus capitalis) – Yankuam 11/1
*Golden-winged Tody-Flycatcher (P. calopterus) – Yankuam 10/31-11/2
Common Tody-Flycatcher (T. cinereum) – widespread 10/27-11/4
HBrownish Twistwing (Cnipodectes subbrunneus) – Manglares Churute, Umbrellabird Lodge 10/27,29 heard only
Yellow-olive Flycatcher (Tolmomyias sulphurescens) – Umbrellabird Lodge, Jorupe 10/28-29, 11/6
HYellow-breasted Flycatcher (T. flaviventris) – Yankuam 10/31 heard only
HRoyal Flycatcher (Onychorhynchus coronatus) – Manglares Churute? 10/27 heard only
[Olive-chested Flycatcher (Myiophobus cryptoxanthus) – Yankuam 11/1 seen by others but not by me]
Bran-colored Flycatcher (M. fasciatus) – Manglares Churute, Jorupe 10/27, 11/6
[Tawny-breasted Flycatcher (Myiobius villosus) – Umbrellabird Lodge 10/28 seen by others but not by me]
Black-tailed Flycatcher (M. atricaudus) – Umbrellabird Lodge? 10/29
Cinnamon Flycatcher (Pyrrhomyias cinnamomeus) – Tapichalaca 11/3-4
Cliff Flycatcher (Hirundinea ferruginea) – Tapichalaca? 11/3
*Orange-banded Flycatcher (Nephelomyias lintoni) – Tapichalaca (road below Valladolid?) 11/4 Near Threatened
Olive-sided Flycatcher (Contopus cooperi) – Umbrellabird Lodge, Yankuam 10/28, 11/1
HSmoke-colored Pewee (C. fumgatus) – Copalinga? 10/31 heard only
Western Wood-Pewee (C. sordidulus) – Yankuam 11/1
Eastern Wood-Pewee – (C. virens) – Yankuam 11/1
Tumbes (Tropical) Pewee (C. punensis [cinereus]) – Jorupe 11/6 possible split
*Blackish Pewee (C. nigrescens) – Yankuam 11/1
Black Phoebe (Sayornis nigricans) – Parque El Lago, Manglares Churute (or Umbrellabird Lodge?) 10/25,27, 11/7
Vermilion Flycatcher (Pyrocephalus rubinus) – Parque El Lago, Manglares Churute, road from Jorupe 10/25,27, 11/7
*Rufous-tailed Tyrant (Knipolegus poecilurus) – Tapichalaca??? 11/5
Smoky Bush-Tyrant (Miotheretes fumigatus) – Tapichalaca or road below 11/4
Masked Water-Tyrant (Fluvicola nengeta) – Parque El Lago 10/25
*Tumbes Tyrant (Tumbezia salvini) – old town dump near Zapotillo 11/7. This bird was formerly considered a Peruvian endemic but this dry, dusty, disheartening spot has an Ecuadorian population of this attractive Tumbesian bird. Near threatened.
[Yellow-bellied Chat-Tyrant (Ochthoeca diadema) – Tapichalaca 11/4 seen by others but not by me]
Slaty-backed Chat-Tyrant (O. cinnamomeiventris) – Tapichalaca 11/5
Long-tailed Tyrant (Colonia colonus) – Yankuam?, Tapichalaca? 10/31, 11/ 2,4
Short-tailed Field Tyrant (Muscigralla brevicauda) – Santa Elena 10/26
Piratic Flycatcher (Legaus leucophalus) – Copalinga 10/29-30
Rusty-margined Flycatcher (Myiozetetes cayanensis) – Manglares Churute? 10/27
Social Flycatcher (M. similis) – Parque El Lago, Manglares Churute , Copalinga?, Tapichalaca? 10/25,27,31, 11/4
Gray-capped Flycatcher (M. granadensis) – Yankuam 11/1
Dusky-chested Flycatcher (M. luteiventris) – Yankuam 11/1
Great Kiskadee (Pitangus sulphuratus) – Yankuam 10/31, 11/2
Lemon-browed Flycatcher (Conopias cinchoneti) – Yankuam 11/1. Vulnerable.
*Baird’s Flycatcher (Myiodynastes bairdii) – Parque El Lago, road from Jorupe 10/25, 11/7
Boat-billed Flycatcher (Megarynchus pitanga) – many locales 10/28-29, 11/1,6-7
Snowy-throated Kingbird (Tyrannus niveigularis) – Parque El Lago, Manglares Churute 10/25,27
Tropical Kingbird (T. melancholicus) – widespread 10/25,27-31, 11/1-2, 4-5, 7-8
Dusky-capped Flycatcher (Myiarchus tuberculifer) – Umbrellabird Lodge, Yankuam, Tapichalaca, Buenaventura 10/27-29 11/1, 4,8
Sooty-crowned Flycatcher (M. phaeocephalus) – Manglares Churute 10/27
Sharpbill (Oxyruncus cristatus) – Yankuam 11/1 – 3 birds seen by me and one other person in the garden of the Yankuam Lodge. Although Gary has never seen it here, the only Ecuadorian range for this bird is in this area (first identified in this area by Ted Parker, I believe) and the species is unmistakable.
Green-and-black Fruiteater (Pipreola riefferii) – 11/4
HGray-tailed Piha (Snowornis subalaaris) – 11/1 heard only
*Long-wattled Umbrellabird (Cephalopterus penduliger) – Umbrellabird Lodge 10/27 two or three birds displaying inside the forest, bouncing up and down, showing the inflated and lengthening wattle and giving strange calls. Vulnerable.
Spangled Cotinga (Cotinga cayana) – 11/1
HDwarf Tyrant-Manakin (Tyranneutes stolzmanni) – Yankuam 11/1 heard only
Club-winged Manakin (Machaeropterus deliciosus) – Umbrellabird Lodge 10/28-29
*Striped Manakin (M. regulus) – Copalinga 10/30, 11/1
[Blue-rumped Manakin (Lepidothrix coronata) – Copalinga 10/30 seen by others but not by me]
HWhite-bearded Manakin (Manacus manacus) – Umbrellabird Lodge 10/27-29 heard only
*Green Manakin (Xenopipo holochlora) – Buenaventura 11.8
Golden-headed Manakin (Pipra erythrocephala) – Copalinga 10/30
Black-crowned Tityra (Tityra inquisitor) – Yankuam 11/2
Masked Tityra (T. cayana) – Yankuam 11/1-2
White-browed Purpletuft (Iodopleura isabellae) – Yankuam !1/1-2
*Yellow-cheeked (Green-backed) Becard (Pachyramphus viridis [xanthogenys) – Yankuam, Tapichalaca 10/31-11/14. There are differences of opinion on the relationship between these forms but the South American Classification Committee of the AOU (SACC) lists this bird as Green-backed.
[Barred Becard (P, versicolor) – Tapichalaca 11/4 seen by others but not by me]
*Slaty Becard (P. spodiurus) – Jorupe 11/6. Endangered.
Cinnamon Becard (P. cinnamomeus) – Umbrellabird Lodge 10/28,29
[White-winged Becard (P. polychopterus) – Copalinga 10/31 seen by others but not by me]
One-colored Becard (P. homocrhous) – Umbrellabird Lodge, Buenaventura 10/28-29, 11/8
*Wing-barred Piprites (Piprites chloris) – Yankuam 11/1
Rufous-browed Peppershrike (Cyclarhis gujanensis) – Parque El Lago, Manglares Churute, Jorupe 10/25,27 11/4-6
*Slaty-capped Shrike-Vireo (Vireolanius leucotis) – Yankuam? 10/31 (Least Concern)
Brown-capped Vireo (Vireo leucophrys) – Copalinga or Tapicalaca?, Buenaventura 11/3,5,8
Red-eyed Vireo (V. olivaceus) – Umbrellabird Lodge 10/28-29 (resident or migrant?)
*Olivaceous Greenlet (Hylophilus olivaceus) – Copalinga 10/30,31. Near Threatened.
Lesser Greenlet (H. decurtatus) – Umbrellabird Lodge 10/28-29
Turquoise Jay (Cyaolyca turcosa) – Copalinga or Tapichalaca? 11/3
Violaeceous Jay (Cyanocorax violaceus) – Yankuam 10/31-11/2
Green (Inca) Jay (C. yncas) – Copalinga, Tapichalaca 10/30, 11/4-5
*White-tailed Jay (C. mystacalis) – Jurupe 11/6-7 common at the lodge feeders
Blue-and-white Swallow (Pygochelidon cyanoleuca) – widespread in higher areas 10/28-11/5,8
Brown-bellied Swallow (Orochelidon murina) – Copalinga or Tapichalaca? 11/3
*Pale-footed Swallow (Atticora fasciata) – Tapichalaca 11/4
White-banded Swallow (A. fasciata) – Yankuam (on Rio Nangaritsa 11/2
Southern Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx ruficollis) – Umbrellabird Lodge, Copalnga, Jorupe, Buenaventura 10/28,30-31 11/6-8
Gray-breasted Martin (Progne chalybe) – Parque El Lago, Santa Elena, Manglares Churute, Umbrellabird, Buenaventura 10/25-27,29, 11/8 (probably elsewhere)
Chestnut-collared Swallow (Petrochelidon rufocollaris) – colony on church in Carianenga? 11/5
HScaly-breasted (Nightingale) Wren (Microcerculus marginatus) – Yankuam 11/2 heard only
House Wren (Troglodytes aedon) – widespread 10/25-27,31 11/6-7 (probably elsewhere as well)
Mountain Wren (T. solstitialis) – Tapichalaca? 11/4
Fasciated Wren (Campylorhynchus fasciatus) – Parque El Lago, Umbrellabird Lodge, Jorupe 10/25,27-29 11/6-7
Thrush-like Wren (C. turdinus) – Yankuam 11/1-2
*Plain-tailed Wren (Pheugopedius (Thyrothorus) euophrys) – Tapichalaca 11/4
Whiskered Wren (P. (T.) mystacalis) – Jorupe 11/7
HCoraya Wren (P. (T.) coraya) – Yankuam 10/31 11/1-2 heard only
*Speckle-breasted Wren (P. (T.) sciateri) – Umbrellabird Lodge? Jorupe10/29 11/6
HBay Wren (Cantorchilus sigricapillus) – Umbrellabird Lodge, Buenaventura 10/28-29 11/8 heard only
Superciliated Wren (C. superciliaris) – Santa Elena, Manglares Churute 10/26-27
Rufous Wren (Cinnycerthia olivascens) – Tapichalaca 11/3-4
HWhite-breasted Wood-Wren (Henichorhina leucosticta) – 10/31 11/2 heard only
Gray-breasted Wood-Wren (H. leucophrys) – Tapichalaca, Buenaventura 11/4-5,8
Song Wren (Cyphorhinus phaeocephalus) – Umbrellabird Lodge? 10/28
Tropical Gnatcatcher (Polioptile plumbea) – Santa Elena, Umbrellabird Lodge, Jorupe 10/26-27,29 11/5-7
Black-capped Donacobius (Donacobius atricapilla) – wetlands somewhere on road to Yankuam 10/31
White-capped Dipper (Cinclus leucocephaus) – from bridge on road to Cajanuma sector of Podocarpus Nat’l Park 11/3
Andean Solitaire (Myadestes ralloides) – heard on 10/28 (Umbrellabird Lodge), seen on 11/8 (Buenaventura)
Swainson’s Thrush (Catharus ustulatus) – Copalinga, Yankuam, Buenaventura 10/29-11/1,8
*Plumbeous-backed Thrush (Turdus reevei) – Jorupe 11/6
Ecuadorian Thrush (T. maculirostris) – Jorupe 11/6-7
[Black-billed Thrush (T. ignobilis) – Copalinga, Yankuam 10/30-31, 11/2 seen by others but not by me]
*Mara̱on Thrush (T. maranonicus) РTapichalaca 11/4 another Peruvian bird that just barely gets into Ecuador
Great Thrush (T. nigriceps) – Tapichalaca 11/3-5
Chiguanco Thrush (T. chiguanco) – Tapichalaca 11/5
White-necked Thrush (T. albicollis) – Copalinga 10/30, 11/3
Long-tailed Mockingbird (Mimus longicaudatus) – common in lowland, Tumbesian area 10/26-27,29, 11/5-7
Black-faced Tanager (Schistochlamys melanopis) – Tapichalaca 11/4 another Peruvian bird that just barely gets into Ecuador
Magpie Tanager (Cissopis leverianus) – Copalinga, Yankuam 10/30, 11/1-2
Black-capped Hemispingus (Hemispingus atropileus) – Tapichalaca 11/4
Gray-hooded Bush-Tanager (Cnemoscopus rubrirostris) – Yankuam, Tapichalaca 11/2,4
Rufous-chested Tanager (Thlypopsis ornata) – Tapichalaca 11/4
Flame-crested Tanager (Tachyphonus cristatus) – Yankuam 11/1
White-shouldered Tanager (T. luctuosus) – Umbrellabird Lodge 10/28-29
Tawny-crested Tanager (T. delatrii) – Copalinga? 10/30
White-lined Tanager (T. rufus) – Yankuam 11/1,2
Silver-beaked Tanager (Ramphocelus carbo) – Copalinga, Yankuam 10/29-11/2
Lemon-rumped (Flame-rumped) Tanager (R. icteronotus [flammigerus]) – 10/27-29, 11/8 split from the Flame-rumped Tanager of Colombia accepted by Ridgely and Jocotoco guide
Blue-gray Tanager (Thraupis episcopus) – Umbrellabird Lodge (coelestis), Coplalinga & Yankuam (quaesita), Jorupe (coelestis) 10/25,27-11/2,4-7
Palm Tanager (T. palmarum) – Copalinga, Yankuam 10/29-11/2
*Orange-throated Tanager (Wetmorethraupis sterrhopteron) – Yankuam 10/31,11/1, a large, colorful tanager formerly thought to be endemic to a small, remote area of Peru, this species can now be much more easily (and safely) seen on the Ecuador side. Vulnerable.
Hooded Mountain-Tanager (Buthraupis montans) – Tapichalaca 11/4
*Black-chested Mountain-Tanager (B. eximia) – Tapichalaca? 11/3
Lacrimose Mountain-Tanager (Anisognathus lacrymosus) – Tapichalaca 11/3-4
Grass-green Tanager (Chlorornis riefferii) – Tapichalaca 11/4
Buff-breasted Mountain-Tanager (Dubusia taeniata) – Tapichalaca 11/4
Fawn-breasted Tanager (Pipraeidea melanonota) – Buenaventura 11/8
Orange-eared Tanager (Chlorochrysa calliparaea) – Copalinga 10/30
*Silvery (Silver-backed) Tanager (Tangara viridicollis) – Tapichalaca, Jorupe 11/4-5,7
Masked Tanager (T. nigrocincta) – Yankuam, road to Tapichalaca 11/1,2
Blue-necked Tanager (T. larvata) – Copalinga, Yamkuam, Tapichalaca 10/29-11/2,4
Yellow-bellied Tanager (T. xanthogastra) – Yankuam 11/1-2
Spotted Tanager (T. punctata) – Copalinga 10/29-30
[Blue-and-black Tanager (T. vassorii) – Tapichalaca 11/3-4 seen by others but not by me]
Beryl-spangled Tanager (T. nigroviridis) – Umbrellabird Lodge, Copalinga 10/28,30
Turquoise Tanager (T. mexicana) – Yankuam 11/2
Paradise Tanager (T. chilensis) – Copalinga, Yankuam 10/29-11/2
Opal-rumped Tanager (T. velia) – Yankuam? 10/31
Bay-headed Tanager (T. gyrola) – Umbrellabird Lodge, Copalinga, Yankuam 10/28-11/1,8
Golden-eared Tanager (T. chrysotis) – Copalinga 10/30
Flame-faced Tanager (T. parzudakii) – Umbrellabird Lodge or Copalinga, Buenaventura 10/29, 11/8
Green-and-gold Tanager (T. schrankii) – Copalinga, Yankuam 10/29-11/2
Golden Tanager (T. arthus) – Umbrellabird Lodge, Copalinga, Buenaventura 10/28-30, 11/8
Silver-throated Tanager (T. icterocephala) – Umbrellabird Lodge, Buenaventura 10/28, 11/8
Swallow Tanager (Tersina viridis) – Coplalinga, Yankuam 10/29-30, 11/1
Black-faced (Yellow-tufted) Dacnis (Dacnis lineata) – Copalinga, Yankuam (lineata) 10/30-11/2
Yellow-bellied Dacnis (D. flaviventer) – Yankuam 10/31-11/2
Blue Dacnis (D. cayana) – Yankuam 10/31, 11/2
Purple Honeycreeper (Cyanerpes caeruleus) – Yankuam 10/31-11/2
Green Honeycreeper (Chlorophanes spiza) – Umbrellabird Lodge, Copalinga, Yankuam 10/27-11/2
*Golden-collared Honeycreeper (Iridophanes pulcherrimus) – Copalinga? 10/30
Guira Tanager (Hemithraupis flavicollis) – Umbrellabird Lodge 10/28-29
Yellow-backed Tanager (H. flavicollis) – Yankuam 11/2
Blue-backed Conebill (Conirostrum sitticolor) – Tapichalaca 11/4
Capped Conebill (C. albifrons) – Tapichalaca? 11/3?
Glossy Flowerpiercer (Diglossa ) – Tapichalaca 11/3
White-sided Floweriercer (D.) – Tapichalaca 11/3,4
Rusty Flowerpiercer (D. sittoides) – Tapichalaca 11/3
Masked Flowerpiercer (D. cyanea) – Tapichalaca 11/4-5
*Plushcap (Catamblyrhynchus diadema) – Tapichalaca 11/3
Collared Warbling-Finch (Poospiza hispaniolensis) – Santa Elena 10/26
Saffron Finch (Sicalis flaveola) – Parque El Lago, Jurupe (Macara) 10/25, 11/6
Blue-black Grassquit (Volatina jacarina) – road from Coplinga, Yankuam, rd below Jurupe 10/31, 11/2,7
Variable Seedeater (Sporophila corvina) – Umbrellabird Lodge area 10/27-29
Yellow-bellied Seedeater (S. nigricollis) – Umbrellabird Lodge, Tapichalaca 10/28, 11/4
Parrot-billed Seedeater (S. peruviana) – Santa Elena 10/26
Chestnut-bellied Seedeater (S. castaneiventris) – Yankuam 11/1-2
Chestnut-throated Seedeater (S. telasco) – Jorupe 11/7
Chestnut-bellied Seed-Finch (Oryzoborus angolensis) – Copalinga or Yankuam? 10/31
Plain-colored Seedeater (Catamenia inornata) – Umbrellabird Lodge 10/28
Red-crested (-pileated) Finch (Coryphospingus cucullatus) – Yankuam 11/1
Crimson-breasted Finch (Rhodospingus cruentus) – Umbrellabird Lodge, Copalinga 10/27,29, 31
Bananaquit (Coereba faveola) – Copalinga, Yankuam, Jurupe 10/27-30, 11/1,7
Dull-colored Grassquit (Tiaris obscurus) – Tapilacha 11/4
[Yellow-shouldered Grosbeak (Pakerthraustes humeralis) – Copalinga or Yankuam? 10/31 seen by others but not by me]
Slate-colored Grosbeak (Saltator grossus) – Copalinga? Yankuam 10/31, 11/2
Buff-throated Saltator (S. maximum) – Umbrellabird Lodge, Copalinga, Buenaventura 10/27-31, 11/8
Black-winged Saltator (S. atripennis) – Umbrellabird Lodge, Copalinga 10/28, 11/7
Grayish Saltator (S. coerulescens) – Yankuam 10/31-11/1
*Black-cowled Saltator (S. nigriceps) – Jorupe 11/5,7
Streaked Saltator (S. striatipectus) – Tapichalaca, Jorupe (other Tumbesian areas?) 11/4,6
Rufous-collared Sparrow (Zonotrichia capensis) – Umbrellabird Lodge, Tapichalaca, Jorupe 10/28, 11/3-5,7
Yellow-browned Sparrow (Ammodramus aurifrons) – Copalinga, Yankuam 10/30-11/2
*Tumbes Sparrow (Rhynchospiza stolzmanni) – Jorupe or area 11/5
HBlack-striped Sparrow (Arremonops conirostris) – Umbrellabird Lodge or Copalinga? 10/29 heard only
Orange-billed Sparrow (Arremon aurantiirostris) – Umbrellabird Lodge 10/28
*Black-capped Sparrow (A. abeillei) – Jorupe 11/6
Pale-naped Brush-Finch (Atlapetes pallidinucha) – Tapichalaca 11/4
Tricolored Brush-Finch (A. tricolor) – Umbrellabird Lodge 10/28
Yellow-breasted Brush-Finch (A. latinuchus) – Tapichalaca 11/3-4
White-winged Brush-Finch (A. leucopterus) – Jorupe or area 11/7
[White-headed Brush-Finch (A. pallidiceps) – Tumbes area 11/7 my big miss of the trip; seen by others but not by me (I was too exhausted to climb the last hot dusty hill!]
Common Bush-Tanager (Chlorospingus ophthalmicus) – Umbrellabird Lodge, Jorupe, Buenaventura 10/28, 11/7-8
Yellow-throated Bush-Tanager (C. flavigularis) – Umbrellabird Lodge, Copalinga 10/27-30
Ashy-throated Bush-Tanager (C. canigularis) – Copalinga 10/30
(Highland) Hepatic Tanager (Piranga flava) – Jorupe 11/6-7
Summer Tanager (P. rubra) – Copalinga 10/30-31
Scarlet Tanager (P. olivacea) – Yankuam? 10/31
*Red-hooded Tanager (P. rubriceps) – Copalinga or Tapichalaca 11/3
Golden-bellied (Southern Yellow) Grosbeak (Pheucticus chrysogaster) – Parque El Lago, Santa Elena, Umbrellabird Lodge 10/25-26,29
*Blue-black Grosbeak (Cyanocompsa cyanoides) – Umbrellabird Lodge 10/29
Tropical Parula (Parula pitiayumi) – Manglares Churute?, Umbrellabird Lodge, Copalinga, Tapichalaca, Jorupe, Buenaventura 10/27-30, 11/4,6,8
[Blackpoll Warbler (Dendroica striata) – Copalinga 10/30 seen by others but not by me]
Blackburnian Warbler (D. fusca) – Copalinga, Tapichalaca? Jorupe 10/30, 11/3,6
Olive-crowned Yellowthroat (Geothlypis semiflava) – Umbrellabird Lodge or area 10/29
[Canada Warbler (Wilsonia canadensis) – Copalinga 10/30 see by others but not by me]
Slate-throated Redstart (Whitestart) (Myioborus miniatus) – Umbrellabird Lodge, Copalinga, Tapichalaca 10/28,30 11/3-5
Spectacled Redstart (Whitestart) (M. melanocephalus) – Tapichalaca? 11/4
*Gray-and-gold Warbler (Basileuterus fraseri) – Umbrellabird Lodge, Jorupe, Buenaventura 10/28-29, 11/6-8
Citrine Warbler (B. luteoviridis) – Tapichalaca 11/4
Black-crested Warbler (B. nigrocristatus) – Tapichalaca 11/3-4
Russet-crowned Warbler (B. coronatus) – Copalinga or Tapichalaca, 11/3 (seen by some), 11/5 (heard)
*Three-banded Warbler (B. trifasciatus) – Tapichalaca? 11/3,5
Three-striped Warbler (B. tristriatus) – Jorupe? Buenaventura 11/3,5,7-8
Buff-rumped (Riverbank) Warbler (Phaeothlypis fulvicauda) – Copalinga , Yankuam 10/30-31, 11/1-2
Russet-backed Oropendola (Psarocolius angustifrons) – Copalinga, Yankuam 10/30-31, 11/1-2
Crested Oropendola (P. decumanus) – Copalinga, Yankuam 10/29-11/2
Yellow-rumped Cacique (Cacicus cela) – Parque El Lago, Yankuam 10/25,31-11/1-2
White-edged Oriole (Icterus graceannae) – Parque El Lago, Santa Elena, Jorupe 10/25-26,11/6-7
Yellow-tailed Oriole (I. mesomelas) – Jorupe 11/6
Epaulet Oriole (I. cayanensis) – Yankuam? 10/31 This bird is not listed for Ecuador in any of the books; the confusion is apparently due to the fact that it has been very recently lumped with the Moriche Oriole which is now considered a ssp of the Epaulet!
Scrub Blackbird (Dives warszewiczi) – Parque El Lago, Santa Elena, Manglares Churute, Umbrellabird Lodge, Jorupe area, etc. 10/25-27,29? 11/5-6
Shiny Cowbird (Molothrus bonariensis) – Parque El Lago, Santa Elena, Manglares Churute 10/25-57
Great-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus) – Parque El Lago, Santa Elena 10/25-26
Peruvian Meadowlark (Sturnella bellicosa) – Santa Elena 10/26
*Saffron Siskin (Sporagra siemiradzkii) – Jorupe Jorupe 11/6 Vulnerable
*Orange-crowned Euphonia (Euphonia saturata) – Parque El Lago, Umbrellabird Lodge, Yankuam 10/25,27-28 11/2
Thick-billed Euphonia (E. laniirostris) – Copalinga, Jorupe, Buenaentura 10/29-31, 11/6-8
Golden-rumped Euphonia (E. cyanocephala) – Copalinga, Tapichalaca 10/29, 11/5
Golden-bellied (White-lored) Euphonia (E. chrysopasta) – Yankuam 11/1
Bronze-green Euphonia (E. mesochrysa) – Copalinga or Yankuam? 10/30
White-vented Euphonia (E. minuta) – Yankuam 11/1-2
Orange-bellied Euphonia (E. xanthogaster) – Manglares Churuta? Copalinga, Yankaum, Buenaventura 10/27,29-30 11/1,8
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) – widespread in towns
515 birds seen or heard by entire group (something under 500 for me)
72 life birds
ALSO SEEN
Guayaquil Squirrel -- Jorupe
Mantled Howler Monkey
Common Squirrel Monkey – Rio Macara
Coatamundi – Umbrellabird Lodge
Eric Salzman
14 Randall Lane
P.O. Box 775
East Quogue NY 11942
631 653-3387
es@ericsalzman.com
www.ericsalzman.com
Sunday, June 21, 2015
Apologies for the hiatus
Apologies for the hiatus!
I twisted my ankle a couple of weeks ago which has limited my mobility but, as it heals, I expect to resume my morning walks and resume my blogs as well. In the meanwhile, I'm putting together my trip report from our visit to southern Ecuador in the fall of 2014 which I'll probably send out tomorrow.
Eric
I twisted my ankle a couple of weeks ago which has limited my mobility but, as it heals, I expect to resume my morning walks and resume my blogs as well. In the meanwhile, I'm putting together my trip report from our visit to southern Ecuador in the fall of 2014 which I'll probably send out tomorrow.
Eric
Sunday, June 14, 2015
Brooklyn Bird Club walk
I've been out of action for a few days now with sprained ankle but I had committed to doing a Brooklyn Bird Club walk on Eastern Long Island specialties and, rather than call it off, I'll called Eileen Schwinn to see if should could help out. She and her husband Fritz were just in Iceland (!) with friends but she came back this week and was willing to pick up the slack. She organized this walk (which I have done in past years) a little differently, starting at EPCAL (ex-Grumman) which is the best site on Long Island for grassland birds -- notably Grasshopper Sparrow and Meadowlark. We intended to complete the day by going to Hunter's Garden, Bicycle Path and then, if any time remained, to go down to the shore. But on the way into Hunter's Garden one of the cars got stuck in soft sand and had to be rescued by Hampton Bays Rapid Recovery, the which put an early end to the day.
Here's the complete annotated list:
Wild Turkey - EPCAL
Turkey Vulture -- several overhead at EPCAL
Red-tailed Hawk -- several overhead at EPCAL
Killdeer -- Lewis Rd, E. Quogue (on the way back home)
Mourning Dove
cuckoo spp -- overhead at EPCAL, species not determined
Chimney Swift
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker -- in the woods leading to Hunter's Garden
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Great Crested Flycatcher -- EPCAL
Eastern Kingbird -- EPCAL
Red-eyed Vireo -- singing in severl spots
Blue Jay
American Crow -- EPCAL
Tree Swallow -- EPCAL
Bank Swallow -- EPCAL
Barn Swallow-- EPCAL
Black-capped Chickadee (heard)
White-breasted Nuthatch (heard)
House Wren -- EPCAL, Line Road
Eastern Bluebird -- Line Road
American Robin
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird -- EPCAL
Brown Thrasher -- EPCAL
Cedar Waxwing -- Line Road
Ovenbird -- road to Hunter's Gardeen
Blue-winged Warbler -- (heard at EPCAL)
Common Yellowthroat -- road into Hunter's Garden
Pine Warbler -- road into Hunter's Garden
Prairie Warbler -- EPCAL
Eastern Towhee -- EPCAL
Chipping Sparrow -- several places
Field Sparrow -- (heard at EPCAL)
Grasshopper Sparrow -- several at EPCAL including one carrying food
Song Sparrow -- heard only
Northern Cardinal
Red-winged Blackbird
Eastern Meadowlark -- heard only
Common Grackle -- EPCAL
Baltimore Oriole -- EPCAL
American Goldfinch
Eileen also reports that she has heard Eastern Whip-poor-will singing in the Oakdale area of East Quogue and, even more exciting, Chuck-will's-widow singing on Old Main Road north of Quogue Village.
Eric Salzman
Here's the complete annotated list:
Wild Turkey - EPCAL
Turkey Vulture -- several overhead at EPCAL
Red-tailed Hawk -- several overhead at EPCAL
Killdeer -- Lewis Rd, E. Quogue (on the way back home)
Mourning Dove
cuckoo spp -- overhead at EPCAL, species not determined
Chimney Swift
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker -- in the woods leading to Hunter's Garden
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Great Crested Flycatcher -- EPCAL
Eastern Kingbird -- EPCAL
Red-eyed Vireo -- singing in severl spots
Blue Jay
American Crow -- EPCAL
Tree Swallow -- EPCAL
Bank Swallow -- EPCAL
Barn Swallow-- EPCAL
Black-capped Chickadee (heard)
White-breasted Nuthatch (heard)
House Wren -- EPCAL, Line Road
Eastern Bluebird -- Line Road
American Robin
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird -- EPCAL
Brown Thrasher -- EPCAL
Cedar Waxwing -- Line Road
Ovenbird -- road to Hunter's Gardeen
Blue-winged Warbler -- (heard at EPCAL)
Common Yellowthroat -- road into Hunter's Garden
Pine Warbler -- road into Hunter's Garden
Prairie Warbler -- EPCAL
Eastern Towhee -- EPCAL
Chipping Sparrow -- several places
Field Sparrow -- (heard at EPCAL)
Grasshopper Sparrow -- several at EPCAL including one carrying food
Song Sparrow -- heard only
Northern Cardinal
Red-winged Blackbird
Eastern Meadowlark -- heard only
Common Grackle -- EPCAL
Baltimore Oriole -- EPCAL
American Goldfinch
Eileen also reports that she has heard Eastern Whip-poor-will singing in the Oakdale area of East Quogue and, even more exciting, Chuck-will's-widow singing on Old Main Road north of Quogue Village.
Eric Salzman
Sunday, June 7, 2015
SOFO/ELIAS walk
Yesterday morning was the now annual SOFO/ELIAS (ELI Audubon) walk around the edge of the meadow behind the SOFO (S Fork Natural History Museum). The morning started clear and overcast but there was warm sunshine later in the day. There was a good turnout from both organizations. The date was a bit earlier this year than in the past and, as a result, there were a lot of birds singing, hawking insects, etc. Here is my annotated list:
Wild Turkey (a small group at the far end of the meadow)
Double-crested Cormorant (overflight)
Herring Gull (overflight)
Red-tailed Hawk (overflight)
Mourning Dove (several seen, mainly around the pond in the middle of the field)
Chimney Swift (several seen flying overhead)
Red-bellied Woodpecker (heard)
Northern Flicker (heard)
Great Crested Flycatcher (heard)
Eastern Kingbird (one bird seen on the meadow)
Red-eyed Vireo (two or three heard in the woods along the edge of the meadow)
Blue Jay (several flying around)
American Crow (overflight)
Purple Martin (very active colony in gourds at the back of the SOFO building)
Tree Swallow (many birds using the Bluebird nesting boxes)
Barn Swallow (many birds feeding over the meadow; there is also a live cam of an occupied nest right under the eaves of the main entrance to the museum)
Black-capped Chickadee (a single bird feeding at the woodland edge)
Tufted Titmouse (heard in the woods)
House Wren (heard)
Eastern Bluebird (at least one pair still occupying one of the nesting boxes and not yet thrown out by the Tree Swallows
thrush (spp? Veery? Made a brief appearance at the far end of the meadow)
American Robin
Gray Catbird (many all along the woodland edge)
Northern Mockingbird (several males singing from high perches in back of SOFO and also at the top of isolated emergent trees in the meadow)
Cedar Waxwing (one or two perched near the head of the meadow; also small flock overhead)
Blue-winged Warbler (singing birds all along the meadow edge; at least one adult seen)
Common Yellowthroat (several singing birds around the edge)
American Redstart (one singing bird near the SOFO building)
Yellow Warbler (most common warbler; many on territory along the edge)
Eastern Towhee (heard in the Greenbelt woods to the north)
Chipping Sparrow (heard)
Song Sparrow (singing birds mainly near the SOFO building)
Northern Cardinal (singing birds around the meadow edge)
Indigo Bunting (this meadow must be the Indigo Capital of LI, if not the world; there were singing Buntings almost all the way around)
Red-winged Blackbird (very common in the meadow)
Common Grackle (a few near the SOFO building)
Brown-headed Cowbird (at least one seen and heard)
Orchard Oriole (at least 3 singing males, one near the SOFO building, another at the woodland edge and a third in the planted evergreen grove; both males & females seen)
Baltimore Oriole (At least as common as the Orchard at the woodland edge most of the way around)
American Goldfinch (a few seen and heard)
Unless I omitted somehing, that makes 40 species seen or heard
Eric Salzman
Wild Turkey (a small group at the far end of the meadow)
Double-crested Cormorant (overflight)
Herring Gull (overflight)
Red-tailed Hawk (overflight)
Mourning Dove (several seen, mainly around the pond in the middle of the field)
Chimney Swift (several seen flying overhead)
Red-bellied Woodpecker (heard)
Northern Flicker (heard)
Great Crested Flycatcher (heard)
Eastern Kingbird (one bird seen on the meadow)
Red-eyed Vireo (two or three heard in the woods along the edge of the meadow)
Blue Jay (several flying around)
American Crow (overflight)
Purple Martin (very active colony in gourds at the back of the SOFO building)
Tree Swallow (many birds using the Bluebird nesting boxes)
Barn Swallow (many birds feeding over the meadow; there is also a live cam of an occupied nest right under the eaves of the main entrance to the museum)
Black-capped Chickadee (a single bird feeding at the woodland edge)
Tufted Titmouse (heard in the woods)
House Wren (heard)
Eastern Bluebird (at least one pair still occupying one of the nesting boxes and not yet thrown out by the Tree Swallows
thrush (spp? Veery? Made a brief appearance at the far end of the meadow)
American Robin
Gray Catbird (many all along the woodland edge)
Northern Mockingbird (several males singing from high perches in back of SOFO and also at the top of isolated emergent trees in the meadow)
Cedar Waxwing (one or two perched near the head of the meadow; also small flock overhead)
Blue-winged Warbler (singing birds all along the meadow edge; at least one adult seen)
Common Yellowthroat (several singing birds around the edge)
American Redstart (one singing bird near the SOFO building)
Yellow Warbler (most common warbler; many on territory along the edge)
Eastern Towhee (heard in the Greenbelt woods to the north)
Chipping Sparrow (heard)
Song Sparrow (singing birds mainly near the SOFO building)
Northern Cardinal (singing birds around the meadow edge)
Indigo Bunting (this meadow must be the Indigo Capital of LI, if not the world; there were singing Buntings almost all the way around)
Red-winged Blackbird (very common in the meadow)
Common Grackle (a few near the SOFO building)
Brown-headed Cowbird (at least one seen and heard)
Orchard Oriole (at least 3 singing males, one near the SOFO building, another at the woodland edge and a third in the planted evergreen grove; both males & females seen)
Baltimore Oriole (At least as common as the Orchard at the woodland edge most of the way around)
American Goldfinch (a few seen and heard)
Unless I omitted somehing, that makes 40 species seen or heard
Eric Salzman
Thursday, June 4, 2015
Dune Road and the terns
Daughter Eva came visiting with a friend and the four of us drove down to Dune Road in the hope of finding some shorebirds or pelagics still on the move. Not too much luck. The best birds of the day were Black Skimmers working the inlets on the Dune Road side of Shinnecock Bay. There were terns but the only active colony seemed to be the Least Terns on the beach east of Ponquogue. Common Terns were fishing at the inlet and flying east over the Ponquogue Bridge, perhaps to the big spoil island on the east side of the bay (mostly a breeding grounds for Herring and Black-backed Gulls). We did see Piping Plovers at Tiana Beach.
Every morning on my walks down to Weesuck Creek, I look for flying terns and try to ID them. I'm better than I used to be but still not 100% especially when the birds stick to the opposite or Pine Neck side of the creek. The small Least Terns and the big Royals that come later in the summer (with an occasional Caspian Tern) can usually be picked out on size alone. Once in a while I see Black Terns and once -- after a hurricane -- Bridled Tern! In between are the Common Terns (which should be nesting in some numbers on the bay) and the similar medium-sized terns that (pardon the pun) turn up more rarely: Arctic (long tail, light back, short dark red bill) and Forster's Tern (long tail, silver-white primaries, longish orange bill with black tip). There's more: Roseate Tern (thin black bill, long tail, white mantle; may still breed on the bay but rarely comes up Weesuck way). Gull-billed and Sandwich Terns are most easily found on the beach at Cupsogue or Mecox Bay after late-summer storms but both are becoming more common on the South Shore of LI.
Later in the season, Forster's has a dark ear patch or mask that makes them easy to separate from everything else but in breeding plumage it has a black cap that makes it tricky to distinguish from Common and Arctic; the best field mark on the flying bird is flashing primary coverts that create a two-tone effect -- white & gray -- on the upper wings, visible even at a distance. They are fairly common in the late summer and fall but I am now seeing them in the spring coming up the creek., even seeming to outnumber the Commons.
Eric Salzman
Every morning on my walks down to Weesuck Creek, I look for flying terns and try to ID them. I'm better than I used to be but still not 100% especially when the birds stick to the opposite or Pine Neck side of the creek. The small Least Terns and the big Royals that come later in the summer (with an occasional Caspian Tern) can usually be picked out on size alone. Once in a while I see Black Terns and once -- after a hurricane -- Bridled Tern! In between are the Common Terns (which should be nesting in some numbers on the bay) and the similar medium-sized terns that (pardon the pun) turn up more rarely: Arctic (long tail, light back, short dark red bill) and Forster's Tern (long tail, silver-white primaries, longish orange bill with black tip). There's more: Roseate Tern (thin black bill, long tail, white mantle; may still breed on the bay but rarely comes up Weesuck way). Gull-billed and Sandwich Terns are most easily found on the beach at Cupsogue or Mecox Bay after late-summer storms but both are becoming more common on the South Shore of LI.
Later in the season, Forster's has a dark ear patch or mask that makes them easy to separate from everything else but in breeding plumage it has a black cap that makes it tricky to distinguish from Common and Arctic; the best field mark on the flying bird is flashing primary coverts that create a two-tone effect -- white & gray -- on the upper wings, visible even at a distance. They are fairly common in the late summer and fall but I am now seeing them in the spring coming up the creek., even seeming to outnumber the Commons.
Eric Salzman
Tuesday, June 2, 2015
before the rains
Before the rains came and clobbered everything, there was a noticeable appearance of butterflies and flowers. The former included Tiger Swallowtails, Red Admiral and Little Wood-Satyr, the last-named not as spectacular as the others but an insect with character (and owl-ish eye spots).
On the flower front, Black Cherry, Dame's Rocket and various Rubus are in full display while the first roses are coming in. Several trees are in flower including Honey Locust, Catalpa and Horse Chestnut but my favorite, by far, is the Big-leaf Magnolia. There is a stand of these prehistoric trees in the woods just off our property and they send up huge floppy white flowers that will turn into pineapple-like seed cones later in the season. This tree is what I call an almost-native but it is not common in its southern range (it is even considered to be threatened in some places) and I find it strange that it does so well here! The Magnolias are considered a fairly primitive form of flowering tree, having evolved before there were bees to pollinate anything; they are more-or-less transitional between the evergreens and the flowering trees.
A lot of small flowers are in bloom right now but I'm going to have to make some serious efforts to figure out what they are.
Eric Salzman
On the flower front, Black Cherry, Dame's Rocket and various Rubus are in full display while the first roses are coming in. Several trees are in flower including Honey Locust, Catalpa and Horse Chestnut but my favorite, by far, is the Big-leaf Magnolia. There is a stand of these prehistoric trees in the woods just off our property and they send up huge floppy white flowers that will turn into pineapple-like seed cones later in the season. This tree is what I call an almost-native but it is not common in its southern range (it is even considered to be threatened in some places) and I find it strange that it does so well here! The Magnolias are considered a fairly primitive form of flowering tree, having evolved before there were bees to pollinate anything; they are more-or-less transitional between the evergreens and the flowering trees.
A lot of small flowers are in bloom right now but I'm going to have to make some serious efforts to figure out what they are.
Eric Salzman
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